Jeanne Demessieux
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Marie-Madeleine Demessieux (February 13, 1921–November 11, 1968), was a French organist
, pianist
, composer
, and pedagogue.
, in southern France. She was the second child of Marie-Madeleine Mézy and Étienne Demessieux. After taking private piano lessons with her elder sister, Yolande, Jeanne entered the Montpellier Conservatory in 1928. Four years later, in 1932, she obtained first prizes in solfège and piano. In 1933, Jeanne Demessieux was enrolled as student at the Paris Conservatory
; studying piano with Simon Riera and Magda Tagliaferro
, harmony with Jean Gallon
, counterpoint and fugue with Noël Gallon
, and composition with Henri Büsser. The same year, she was appointed titular organist at Saint-Esprit (12th arondissement), a post she held for 29 years. Between 1936 and 1939, she studied organ privately with Marcel Dupré
, whose organ class at the Conservatoire she joined in 1939. After receiving a first prize in organ performance and improvisation in 1941, Demessieux studied five more years privately with Dupré in Meudon, before she played her début recital at Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1946. This was the beginning of her career as an international recitalist. She played more than 700 concerts in Europe and the United States. Jeanne Demessieux had a prodigious memory: she had memorized more than 2,500 works, including the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach
, César Franck
, Franz Liszt
, Felix Mendelssohn and Marcel Dupré
.
Jeanne Demessieux made numerous recordings, including the complete organ works of César Franck, which was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque in 1960.
In 1962, Demessieux was appointed titular organist at La Madeleine
in Paris. In addition, she was professor of organ at Nancy Conservatoire (1950–52) and the Conservatoire Royal in Liège
, Belgium
(1952–68). Owing to health problems, Demessieux was obliged to limit her performance activities during the mid-1960s. In 1967, she signed a contract with the Decca label for a complete recording of Olivier Messiaen
's organ works. Owing to her untimely death in 1968 the project was never realized.
Jeanne Demessieux died on November 11, 1968, due to an embolism
, in Paris. She left a large catalogue of compositions. Aside from her organ compositions, she wrote pieces for piano, numerous songs and choir works including an oratorio, "Chanson de Roland," and orchestral works. Only one third of her catalogue, which consists of more than 30 compositions, has been published to date.
The Dutch label Festivo has re-released several recordings of Jeanne Demessieux on CD, including her recording of César Franck's complete organ works from 1958.
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...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, 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 pedagogue.
Biography
Jeanne Demessieux was born in MontpellierMontpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, in southern France. She was the second child of Marie-Madeleine Mézy and Étienne Demessieux. After taking private piano lessons with her elder sister, Yolande, Jeanne entered the Montpellier Conservatory in 1928. Four years later, in 1932, she obtained first prizes in solfège and piano. In 1933, Jeanne Demessieux was enrolled as student at the Paris Conservatory
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
; studying piano with Simon Riera and Magda Tagliaferro
Magda Tagliaferro
Magdalena Maria Yvonne Tagliaferro was a Brazilian-born pianist of French extraction. Born in Petropolis, Brazil, she studied under Antonin Marmontel and Alfred Cortot...
, harmony with Jean Gallon
Jean Gallon
Jean Gallon was a French composer, choir conductor, and music educator. His compositional output consists of six antiphons for strings and organ, one mass, one ballet, and several art songs....
, counterpoint and fugue with Noël Gallon
Noël Gallon
Noël Gallon was a French composer and music educator. His compositional output includes several choral works and vocal art songs, 10 preludes, a Toccata for piano, a Sonata for flute and bassoon, a Fantasy for piano and orchestra, an Orchestral Suite, and the lyrical drama Paysans et Soldats...
, and composition with Henri Büsser. The same year, she was appointed titular organist at Saint-Esprit (12th arondissement), a post she held for 29 years. Between 1936 and 1939, she studied organ privately with Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
, whose organ class at the Conservatoire she joined in 1939. After receiving a first prize in organ performance and improvisation in 1941, Demessieux studied five more years privately with Dupré in Meudon, before she played her début recital at Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1946. This was the beginning of her career as an international recitalist. She played more than 700 concerts in Europe and the United States. Jeanne Demessieux had a prodigious memory: she had memorized more than 2,500 works, including the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, 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....
, Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Felix Mendelssohn and Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré
Marcel Dupré , was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue.-Biography:Marcel Dupré was born in Rouen . Born into a musical family, he was a child prodigy. His father Albert Dupré was organist in Rouen and a friend of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who built an organ in the family house when...
.
Jeanne Demessieux made numerous recordings, including the complete organ works of César Franck, which was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque in 1960.
In 1962, Demessieux was appointed titular organist at La Madeleine
Église de la Madeleine
L'église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army...
in Paris. In addition, she was professor of organ at Nancy Conservatoire (1950–52) and the Conservatoire Royal in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1952–68). Owing to health problems, Demessieux was obliged to limit her performance activities during the mid-1960s. In 1967, she signed a contract with the Decca label for a complete recording of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
's organ works. Owing to her untimely death in 1968 the project was never realized.
Jeanne Demessieux died on November 11, 1968, due to an embolism
Embolism
In medicine, an embolism is the event of lodging of an embolus into a narrow capillary vessel of an arterial bed which causes a blockage in a distant part of the body.Embolization is...
, in Paris. She left a large catalogue of compositions. Aside from her organ compositions, she wrote pieces for piano, numerous songs and choir works including an oratorio, "Chanson de Roland," and orchestral works. Only one third of her catalogue, which consists of more than 30 compositions, has been published to date.
The Dutch label Festivo has re-released several recordings of Jeanne Demessieux on CD, including her recording of César Franck's complete organ works from 1958.
Organ Solo
- Nativité, op. 4 (composed 1943/44. Sampzon: Delatour France, 2005)
- Six études, op. 5 (composed 1944. Paris: Bornemann/Leduc, 1946)
- Pointes
- Tierces
- Sixtes
- Accords alternés
- Notes répétées
- Octaves
- Sept méditations sur le Saint-Esprit, op. 6 (composed 1945–47. Paris: Durand, 1947)
- Veni Sancte Spiritus
- Les eaux
- Pentecôte
- Dogme
- Consolateur
- Paix
- Lumière
- Triptyque, op. 7 (composed 1947. Paris: Durand, 1949)
- Prélude
- Adagio
- Fugue
- Twelve Choral-Preludes on Gregorian Chant Themes, op. 8 (composed 1947. Boston, MA: McLaughlin & Reilly, 1950)
- Rorate Caeli (aka. Rorate CoeliRorate CoeliRorate Coeli , from the Book of Isaiah in the Vulgate, are the opening words of a text used in Catholic and, less frequently, Protestant liturgy...
) - Adeste fidelesAdeste Fideles"Adeste Fideles" is a hymn tune attributed to English hymnist John Francis Wade . The text itself has unclear beginnings, and may have been written in the 13th century by John of Reading, though it has been concluded that Wade was probably the author.The original four verses of the hymn were...
- Attende Domine
- Stabat MaterStabat MaterStabat Mater is a 13th-century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary. It has been variously attributed to the Franciscan Jacopone da Todi and to Innocent III...
- Vexilla RegisVexilla RegisThe "Vexilla Regis" is a Latin hymn by the Christian poet Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop of Poitiers. It takes its title from its opening stanza:...
- Hosanna filio David
- O Filii
- Veni Creator Spiritus
- Ubi caritas
- In manus tuas
- Tu es petrus
- Domine Jesu
- Rorate Caeli (aka. Rorate Coeli
- Andante (Chant donné) (composed 1953. In: 64 Leçons d'Harmonie, offertes en hommage à Jean Gallon, edited by Claude Delvincourt. Paris: Durand, 1953)
- Te DeumTe DeumThe Te Deum is an early Christian hymn of praise. The title is taken from its opening Latin words, Te Deum laudamus, rendered literally as "Thee, O God, we praise"....
, op. 11 (composed 1957/58. Paris: Durand, 1959) - Répons pour le temps de pâques: Victimae paschali laudes (composed 1962/63. Paris: Durand, 1970)
- Répons pour les temps liturgiques (composed 1962–66. Sampzon: Delatour France, 2006)
- Répons pour le temps du Très-Saint-Rosaire: Ave Maria
- Répons pour le temps d'Advent: Consolamini
- Répons pour le temps du Saint-Sacrement: Lauda Sion (first version, composed 1963)
- Répons pour le temps du Saint-Sacrement: Lauda Sion (second version, composed 1966)
- Prélude et fugue en ut, op. 13 (composed 1964. Paris: Durand, 1965)
Piano Solo
- Berceuse (composed 1926. Unpublished.)
- Suite (composed 1938. Unpublished.)
- Prélude
- Scherzetto
- Menuet
- Toccata
- Étude in F# major (composed 1938. Unpublished.)
- Trois préludes (composed 1939. Unpublished.)
- D# minor
- B minor
- D minor
Songs (with Piano)
- Le moulin (composed 1937. Unpublished.)
- Soudainement contre les vitres (composed 1940. Unpublished.)
- Sonnet de Michel-Ange (composed 1949. Unpublished.)
- Action de grâce (Not dated. Unpublished.)
- Cavalier (Not dated. Unpublished.)
- Le vase brisé (Not dated. Unpublished.)
Chamber Music
- Sonata for violin and piano (composed 1940. Unpublished.)
- Ballade, op. 12, for horn and piano (composed 1962. Paris: Durand, 1962.)
- String quartet (Not dated. Unpublished.)
Vocal Music
- Cantate pour le jeudi Saint for chorus, soloists, and organ; text by Félix Raugel (composed 1938. Unpublished.)
- Barques célestes for three women’s voices a capella (composed 1938. Unpublished.)
- Consolamini for five mixed voices a capella (composed 1950. Unpublished.)
- Chanson de Roland for chorus, mezzo soprano, and orchestra (composed 1951–56. Unpublished.)
Miscellaneous
- Two symphonic movements for orchestra (composed 1941. Unpublished.)
- George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
: Cadences for Organ Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 (Unpublished.) - Franz LisztFranz LisztFranz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
: Funérailles, arranged for organ solo (Sampzon: Delatour France, 2010)
Discography
- Jeanne Demessieux: Complete Organ Works.
- Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour le temps de Pâques, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Triptyque op. 7, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Six Etudes op. 5. Pierre Labric: Hommage à Jeanne Demessieux.
- Pierre Labric, Organist. Recorded in July and December 1971 and October 1972 at St. Ouen, Rouen, and St. Pierre, Angoulème (Six Études, Sept Méditations). Musical Heritage Society, 1974.
- Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour le temps de Pâques, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Triptyque op. 7, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Six Etudes op. 5. Pierre Labric: Hommage à Jeanne Demessieux.
- Jeanne Demessieux: Complete Organ Works.
- Nativité op. 4, Six Études op. 5, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Triptyque op. 7, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour les Temps Liturgiques, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13.
- Maxime Patel, Organist. Recorded in August 2006 at the Jann Organs of the Stiftsbasilika Waldsassen, Germany. A film production by Federico Savio. Hombourg-Haut, France: Fugatto, 2008. 1 DVD.
- Nativité op. 4, Six Études op. 5, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Triptyque op. 7, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour les Temps Liturgiques, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13.
- Jeanne Demessieux: Complete Organ Works.
- Nativité op. 4, Six Études op. 5, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Triptyque op. 7, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour les Temps Liturgiques, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13, Andante (Chant donné), Poème op. 9 for organ and orchestra.
- Stephen Tharp, Organist. Recorded in June 2004 at St. Martin, Dudelange (Luxembourg; opp. 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, and Andante), and in May 2006 at St. Ouen, Rouen (opp. 6 and 7, Répons pour les Temps Liturgiques). Jeanne Demessieux, Organist/Orchestre Radio-Symphonique de Paris, direction: Eugène Bigot (Poème op. 9). Recorded in 1952 at Salle Pleyel, Paris. Korschenbroich, Germany: Aeolus Music, 2008. 2 SACD's & 1 CD.
- Nativité op. 4, Six Études op. 5, Sept Méditations sur le Saint-Esprit op. 6, Triptyque op. 7, 12 Choral-Préludes op. 8, Te Deum op. 11, Répons pour les Temps Liturgiques, Prélude et Fugue en Ut op. 13, Andante (Chant donné), Poème op. 9 for organ and orchestra.
- César Franck: The complete works for organ.
- Jeanne Demessieux, Organ. Recorded in July 1959 at the Cavaillé-Coll-Orgel of La Madeleine in Paris, France. Amersfoort, Netherlands: Festivo, n. d. FECD 155/156. 2 CD's.
- Jeanne Demessieux aux grandes orgues de l'Eglise de la Madeleine à Paris, Vol. I.
- J. S. Bach: Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott BWV 721, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß BWV 622, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam BWV 684; W. A. Mozart: Fantasia in F minor K. 608; F. Liszt: Prelude and Fugue on the name BACH; Ch. M. Widor: Allegro from Symphony No. 6 in G minor.
- Jeanne Demessieux, Organ. Recorded in July 1958 at the Cavaillé-Coll-Orgel of La Madeleine in Paris, France. Amersfoort, Netherlands: Festivo, n. d. FECD 131. 1 CD.
- J. S. Bach: Sinfonia from Cantata No. 29, Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott BWV 721, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß BWV 622, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam BWV 684; W. A. Mozart: Fantasia in F minor K. 608; F. Liszt: Prelude and Fugue on the name BACH; Ch. M. Widor: Allegro from Symphony No. 6 in G minor.
- Jeanne Demessieux aux grandes orgues de l'Eglise de la Madeleine à Paris, Vol. II.
- J. S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in F Major BWV 540, Fantasia in G major BWV 572; W. A. Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor K. 546/426; E. Mignan: Toccata Médiévale; J. Berveiller: Mouvement; J. Demessieux: Te Deum op. 11.
- Jeanne Demessieux, Organ. Recorded in July 1958 at the Cavaillé-Coll-Orgel of La Madeleine in Paris, France. Amersfoort, Netherlands: Festivo, n. d. FECD 132. 1 CD.
- J. S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue in F Major BWV 540, Fantasia in G major BWV 572; W. A. Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor K. 546/426; E. Mignan: Toccata Médiévale; J. Berveiller: Mouvement; J. Demessieux: Te Deum op. 11.
- The Legendary Jeanne Demessieux, Vol. III.
- O. Messiaen: Transports de joie (L'Ascension); J. S. Bach: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731; J. Berveiller: Mouvement; Ch. M. Widor: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 in F minor; W. A. Mozart: Fantasia in F minor K. 608; J .S. Bach: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major BWV 564; F. Liszt: Ad nos, ad salutarem undam.
- Jeanne Demessieux, Organ. Recorded on July 6, 1961 at the Müller-Orgel of St. Bavo, Haarlem (Mozart), on July 23, 1963 at the organ of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam (Bach: BWV 564), at Victoria Hall in Geneva (1963; Liszt: Ad nos), and the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool (1967; Messiaen; Bach: BWV 731; Berveiller and Widor). Amersfoort, Netherlands: Festivo, n. d. FECD 141. 1 CD.
- O. Messiaen: Transports de joie (L'Ascension); J. S. Bach: Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731; J. Berveiller: Mouvement; Ch. M. Widor: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 in F minor; W. A. Mozart: Fantasia in F minor K. 608; J .S. Bach: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major BWV 564; F. Liszt: Ad nos, ad salutarem undam.
- The Legendary Jeanne Demessieux: The Hamburg Organs.
- St. Sophienkirche: H. Purcell: Trumpet Tune; J. S. Bach: Praeludium and Fugue in A minor BWV 543, Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731. St. Michaelis: C. Franck: Prélude, Fugue et Variation op. 18, Cantabile (Trios Pièces). Christianskirche: J. Berveiller: Mouvement; J. Demessieux: Te Deum op. 11, Consolateur (Sept Méditation sur le Saint Esprit op. 6), Tierces (Six Études op. 5); O. Messiaen: Dieu parmi nous (La Nativité du Seigneur); J. Demessieux: Improvisation on the Choral "O großer Gott der Treu" from Cantata No. 46 of J. S. Bach.
- Jeanne Demessieux, Organ. Recorded in May 1959 (St. Sophienkirche), in November 1962 (St. Michaelis), and June 1958 (Christianskirche). Amersfoort, Netherlands: Festivo, n. d. FECD 6961/862. 1 CD.
- St. Sophienkirche: H. Purcell: Trumpet Tune; J. S. Bach: Praeludium and Fugue in A minor BWV 543, Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731. St. Michaelis: C. Franck: Prélude, Fugue et Variation op. 18, Cantabile (Trios Pièces). Christianskirche: J. Berveiller: Mouvement; J. Demessieux: Te Deum op. 11, Consolateur (Sept Méditation sur le Saint Esprit op. 6), Tierces (Six Études op. 5); O. Messiaen: Dieu parmi nous (La Nativité du Seigneur); J. Demessieux: Improvisation on the Choral "O großer Gott der Treu" from Cantata No. 46 of J. S. Bach.