This edition contains Vierne's integral choral works and liturgical organ music. He was organist at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris for almost 40 years, making him one of the most important representatives of the Paris organ school after Franck. Vierne's life was a sad succession of illnesses, marital problems and the loss of loved ones. Curiously, his sudden death at the organ of Notre Dame
… seems to have been a wish he cherished. The recently performed Stèle Pour Un Enfant Défunt (to be heard on this CD) therefore unintentionally became his swan song. The lion's share of this double CD concerns the three masses. The Messe Solenelle for choir and two organs impresses with the dialogue between the large organ on the west side and the choir organ. The two other masses contain 'only' music for harmonium. So manualiter organ music, which - certainly as far as the Messe Basse pour les Défunts is concerned - is not inferior to the great Symphonies and the Pièces de Fantaisie. These outstanding performances came about in Truro Cathedral in Cornwall. (HJ)more
