Charles Tournemire
Encyclopedia
Charles Tournemire was a French
composer
and organist
, notable partly for his improvisation
s, which were often rooted in the music of Gregorian chant
. His compositions include eight symphonies
(one of them choral), four operas, twelve chamber works and eighteen piano solos; but today he is almost exclusively remembered for his organ music, and by far the best known piece from his pen is L'Orgue Mystique.
, Tournemire became one of César Franck
's three youngest students (the others were Henri Büsser
and a Belgian, Guillaume Lekeu
, the latter having been born only two days before Tournemire). In 1931 he published a biography of Franck.
From 1898 (on the resignation of Gabriel Pierné
) to 1939, Tournemire served as the organiste titulaire at Franck's old church, the Basilique Ste-Clotilde, Paris
. He was also professor of Chamber Music at the Paris Conservatoire, and teacher of organ improvisation there.
In 1930 Tournemire recorded five organ improvisations, which were later transcribed by Maurice Duruflé
from phonograph
recordings. Of ten 78-rpm discs which Tournemire made in 1930, playing the Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
organ of Sainte-Clotilde (Polydor 561047, 561048, 566057, 566058, 566059), five contain Franck compositions. This set of discs was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque on May 18, 1931, and has been reissued on both LP and CD.
Insofar as Tournemire's name is now remembered, it is usually spoken of in connection with his biggest composition: L'orgue Mystique, a group of 51 sets of five pieces each (except for Holy Saturday, which contains only three pieces), all written between 1927 and 1932. This collection covers the cycle of the Roman Catholic liturgical year, each set being based on the Gregorian chants for the day. Unlike the symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor
, which are usually heard in secular recitals, L'Orgue Mystique was designed for church use.
Tournemire died at Arcachon
in 1939. The precise cause of his death is uncertain, as is the exact date (3 or 4 November).
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, notable partly for his improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
s, which were often rooted in the music of Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
. His compositions include eight symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
(one of them choral), four operas, twelve chamber works and eighteen piano solos; but today he is almost exclusively remembered for his organ music, and by far the best known piece from his pen is L'Orgue Mystique.
Biography
Born at BordeauxBordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, Tournemire became one of César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
's three youngest students (the others were Henri Büsser
Henri Büsser
Henri Büsser was a French classical composer, organist, and conductor.- Biography :Paul-Henri Büsser was born in Toulouse, of partly Teutonic ancestry. He entered the Conservatoire in Paris in 1889; there he studied organ with César Franck and composition with Ernest Guiraud...
and a Belgian, Guillaume Lekeu
Guillaume Lekeu
Guillaume Lekeu was a Belgian composer of classical music.- Life :Lekeu, who was born in Verviers, Belgium, took his first lessons at the conservatoire in that city. In 1879, his parents moved to Poitiers, France. There, he finished school while he continued his music studies autodidactically...
, the latter having been born only two days before Tournemire). In 1931 he published a biography of Franck.
From 1898 (on the resignation of Gabriel Pierné
Gabriel Pierné
Henri Constant Gabriel Pierné was a French composer, conductor, and organist.-Biography:Gabriel Pierné was born in Metz in 1863. His family moved to Paris to escape the Franco-Prussian War. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, gaining first prizes for solfège, piano, organ, counterpoint and fugue...
) to 1939, Tournemire served as the organiste titulaire at Franck's old church, the Basilique Ste-Clotilde, Paris
Basilique Ste-Clotilde, Paris
The Basilica of Saint Clotilde is a basilica church in Paris, located on the Rue Las Cases, in the area of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. It is best known for its imposing twin spires.-History:...
. He was also professor of Chamber Music at the Paris Conservatoire, and teacher of organ improvisation there.
In 1930 Tournemire recorded five organ improvisations, which were later transcribed by Maurice Duruflé
Maurice Duruflé
Maurice Duruflé was a French composer, organist, and pedagogue.Duruflé was born in Louviers, Eure. In 1912, he became chorister at the Rouen Cathedral Choir School, where he studied piano and organ with Jules Haelling...
from phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
recordings. Of ten 78-rpm discs which Tournemire made in 1930, playing the Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll was a French organ builder. He is considered by many to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century because he combined both science and art to make his instruments...
organ of Sainte-Clotilde (Polydor 561047, 561048, 566057, 566058, 566059), five contain Franck compositions. This set of discs was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque on May 18, 1931, and has been reissued on both LP and CD.
Insofar as Tournemire's name is now remembered, it is usually spoken of in connection with his biggest composition: L'orgue Mystique, a group of 51 sets of five pieces each (except for Holy Saturday, which contains only three pieces), all written between 1927 and 1932. This collection covers the cycle of the Roman Catholic liturgical year, each set being based on the Gregorian chants for the day. Unlike the symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Widor
Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor was a French organist, composer and teacher.-Life:Widor was born in Lyon, to a family of organ builders, and initially studied music there with his father, François-Charles Widor, titular organist of Saint-François-de-Sales from 1838 to 1889...
, which are usually heard in secular recitals, L'Orgue Mystique was designed for church use.
Tournemire died at Arcachon
Arcachon
Arcachon is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.It is a popular bathing location on the Atlantic coast southwest of Bordeaux in the Landes forest...
in 1939. The precise cause of his death is uncertain, as is the exact date (3 or 4 November).
External links
- Complete list of works
- Article and review, on Tournemire's chamber works
- Charles Tournemire Memories Contains worklist, though that is the only working link on the page, which has not been updated in eight years (Feb. 2008).
Further reading
- Pascal Ianco: Charles Tournemire, ou Le mythe de Tristan. Papillon, Genève, 2001. ISBN 2-940310-06-8 (in French)
- Joël-Marie Fauquet: Catalogue de l'oeuvre de Charles Tournemire. Genève: Minkoff, 1979.
- Rollin Smith: Toward an Authentic Interpretation of the Organ Works of César Franck. Chapter 8: The Tournemire Recordings. Juilliard Performance Guide I. New York, Pendragon Press, 1983. ISBN 0-918728-25-8.