Customer Reviews

Francois Couperin: Organ Masses

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This recording, made in 1990 at the St. Bertrand Cathedral in Saint Bertrand de Comminges (France), contains two 'organ masses' published in 1690, presumably by the then 21 year old François Couperin ('le Grand'), although the first modern edition of these works attributed them to his uncle, also called François. Unlike other Renaissance and baroque masses, the seventeenth-century French 'organ mass' is written almost exclusively for organ and Gregorian chant; of the 49 tracks on these two Cds, only four have contributions from vocal soloists (Isabelle Poulenard and François Le Roux in the Mass 'à l'usage ordinaire des Paroisses'; countertenor Jacques des Longchamps and, again, François Le Roux in the 'Messe Propre pour les Convents de Religieux et Religieuses'). The rest of the music consists of alternating organ music (making ample use of the typically French registers such as 'chromhorne'. 'basse de tierce' and 'grand jeux') and Gregorian chant, sung by the Choeur grégorien du Val-de-Grâce with a small number of fairly high tenor voices.

The effect is quite mesmerising and makes very apparent why many people in the Post-Reformation period preferred a sung Catholic liturgy with its mysticism, sensuousness and artistic beauty. This disc was recorded, of course, in a cathedral, and requires excellent hifi equipment to be really enjoyed (as is the case with most recordings of large church organs). However, the balance is excellent and should provide great enjoyment for church organists and for fans of French baroque sacred music or of Couperin. Should anyone light upon this who is unfamiliar with this kind of music, however, I would strongly suggest turning first to more accessible music of this period; in particular, the sacred music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier may provide an easier gateway to appreciation of the beauties here presented.