Suite Gothique
Encyclopedia
Suite Gothique is a suite for organ
composed by Léon Boëllmann
in 1895.
The suite consists of four movements:
The first movement (Introduction - Choral) is in C minor and is made up of harmonized choral phrases that are first played in block chords on the great and pedals, and then repeated, piano, on the Swell.
The second movement (Menuet Gothique) is in 3/4 time and in C major.
The third movement (Prière à Notre-Dame) is in Ab major. It rarely uses dynamics above 'piano'. This movement is often played at weddings.
The final fourth movement (Toccata) is the best-known of the suite. This movement returns to C minor, ending with a Tierce de Picardie
on full organ.
The suite was transcribed for Brass Band by composer Eric Ball, and is frequently used as a concert finale by the country's premier bands, such as Fodens, Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick.
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
composed by Léon Boëllmann
Léon Boëllmann
Léon Boëllmann was a French composer of Alsatian origin, known for a small number of compositions for organ. His best-known composition is Suite Gothique , still very much a staple of the organ repertoire, especially its dramatic concluding Toccata.-Biography:The son of a pharmacist, Boëllmann was...
in 1895.
The suite consists of four movements:
- Introduction - Choral (C Minor)
- Menuet Gothique (C Major)
- Prière à Notre-Dame (A Flat Major)
- Toccata (C Minor)
The first movement (Introduction - Choral) is in C minor and is made up of harmonized choral phrases that are first played in block chords on the great and pedals, and then repeated, piano, on the Swell.
The second movement (Menuet Gothique) is in 3/4 time and in C major.
The third movement (Prière à Notre-Dame) is in Ab major. It rarely uses dynamics above 'piano'. This movement is often played at weddings.
The final fourth movement (Toccata) is the best-known of the suite. This movement returns to C minor, ending with a Tierce de Picardie
Picardy third
A Picardy third is a harmonic device used in European classical music.It refers to the use of a major chord of the tonic at the end of a musical section which is either modal or in a minor key...
on full organ.
The suite was transcribed for Brass Band by composer Eric Ball, and is frequently used as a concert finale by the country's premier bands, such as Fodens, Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick.