Blind from the age of two, a prodigiously gifted student, Jean Langlais (1907-91) produced an immense quantity of music. His organ works alone exceed in number those of JS Bach. Many have hardly ever been performed. Perhaps not more than half a dozen works are regularly played or recorded today, which is what makes this new complete survey of his organ music so invaluable, as the authoritative document of a high point in the distinguished lineage of the French organ heritage.
The second volume of this complete survey opens with the third and last of his organ symphonies, among the most imposing and yet overlooked of his major works. More familiar are the Gregorian-inspired Suite medievale, the Triptyque, and the Triptyque Grégorien, whose flowing melodies share a spirit of Catholic mysticism with briefer meditations such as the Prière des Mages, the Incantation pour un Jour Saint and the Palm-Sunday voluntary Dominica in Palmis.
As a collection of character pieces, Mosaique shows off Langlais’s versatility, by turns solemn and joyful, songful and stormy. This sheer variety of form alone makes him stand out among French 20th-century composers for the organ. Throughout his life, Langlais wrote in many different styles and, true to his ideal, still retained the ability to surprise.
This major project has been undertaken jointly by the Italian organists Giorgio Benati, Fausto Caporali and Alessandro Perin. Benati is a former student of Langlais, and Caporali has a string of successful French organ recordings to his credit. They have made these new recordings on Italian instruments, lending Langlais an ‘Italian accent’ while faithfully observing his expressive and registration markings in his scores. Booklet notes for each piece have been written by Giorgio Benati.
- Volume 2 of the recording of the complete organ works by Jean Langlais.
- Jean Langlais was born on February 15, 1907, in La Fontenelle, Brittany, France. He became blind from the age of two. Sent to the Paris National Institute for the Blind Youth in 1918, he studied piano, violin, harmony and organ with great blind teachers (among others Albert Mahaut and André Marchal). Later on, he entered the Paris National Conservatory of Music in the Marcel Dupré’s organ class, obtaining a First Prize in 1930. In 1931, after studying improvisation with Charles Tournemire, he received the “Grand Prix d’Execution et Improvisation des Amis de l’Orgue”. He completed his studies obtaining a Composition Prize in Paul Dukas’ class at the Paris Conservatory in 1934.
- In 1945, he became the successor to César Franck and Charles Tournemire at the prestigious organ tribune of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. He gave countless concerts worldwide, and was a prolific composer. He died on May 8th, 1991 in Paris.
- Langlais’ distinctive style combined traditional harmonies with contemporary techniques. His compositions often feature intricate organ textures and colourful harmonies, influenced by his background as a church musician. Langlais was also known for his use of modes and complex rhythms, which added to the unique character of his music. His works often have a strong emotional intensity and sense of drama, with frequent shifts in mood and dynamics.
- This second volume of Langlais’ complete organ works is played by three excellent Italian organists: Fausto Caporali, Giorgio Benati and Alessandro Perin, playing impressive organs in Milan, Verona and Padova, the technical specifications of which are included in the extensive booklet.
