Patrick Devan, Muse Symphony Orchestra, Henri Demarquette - Boelman: Symphony, Hele Major, Others - Import CD

Credits:

Patrick Devan, Muse Symphony Orchestra, Henri Demarquette

Description:

The Unknown Symphonies of the 19th Century Organist Léon Boërmant was active in France as an organist and composer of the generation following Fauré and Franck. He was only 35 years old when he succumbed to tuberculosis, and most of his works are for organ, with only a few chamber works known to the public. However, he left behind a small number of works for orchestra, including a magnificent symphony with a playing time of over 30 minutes. This is the first time the work is available on CD. This symphony is dedicated to Saint-Saens, and although it was written at the end of the 19th century, it is a hidden masterpiece that sounds as if it anticipates contemporary film music. It is surprising that such a progressive work has remained buried for more than a century, even though compositionally it is not as good as the great symphonies of the time. The "Symphonic Variations," dedicated to Joseph Salmon, a cellist active at the time, is a dynamic and rewarding work. The "Four Pieces" were originally written for a small organ called the harmonium.Boellmann published "Mystery Hours" Op. 29 and 30, a collection of more than 100 pieces with religious titles from the Mass liturgy and other texts, for this instrument, which was popular at the time and for which Frank and others had left works. In the same year, he selected four of these pieces and arranged them for strings. The simple and beautiful melodies, reminiscent of folk songs, are impressive. The musicologist Jérôme Lejeune, who also heads the Ricercar label, recorded Dupont's orchestral works (FUG751 with Japanese commentary NYCX-10050) in an attempt to systematically record symphonic works by French organists active in the 19th and 20th centuries. 10050), who had just recorded an orchestral work by Dupont at the time. Davin, who was also thinking about the same thing, was very much in favor of this project and told me that he and the Mulhouse Symphony Orchestra, of which he was the artistic director, had recorded an album of Boërmant's works on the Timpani label. However, the label went inactive and the release fell through. On September 9, 2020, Davin died suddenly.Lejeune's enthusiasm for this recording, of which he spoke with great passion, has not been forgotten, has led to its release on a different label this time. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.Symphonie en fa majeur, Op. 24~Introduction - Allegro con fuoco
2.Symphonie en fa majeur, Op. 24~Intermede varie: Allegro ben marcato
3.Symphonie en fa majeur, Op. 24~Recitatif et Final
4.Variations symphoniques pour violoncelle et orchestre, Op. 23
5.Quatre Pieces breves pour cordes, extraites des Heures mystiques~Allegro
6.Quatre Pieces breves pour cordes, extraites des Heures mystiques~Moderato
7.Quatre Pieces breves pour cordes, extraites des Heures mystiques~Allegro
8.Quatre Pieces breves pour cordes, extraites des Heures mystiques~Andantino