Vingt morceaux pour orgue, No. 19 Verset (A minor)

Charles-Alexis Chauvet, born 7 June 1837, Marines, on January 29, 1871 in Argentan, was a French composer and organist.

He first played the organ of the Church St-Rémi at the age of 11-year, and entered the Paris Conservatory at age 13 to study organ with François Benoist (1st prize for organ in 1860) and composition with Ambroise Thomas whom he became assistant in class composition. In 1860, he was appointed as the choir organist of the Church Saint-Thomas D'Aquin (Paris) organ, then became the principle organist in the following year. From there he played at the Church of Saint Bernard, where he inaugurated the organ in 1863, at Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle, and then to Saint-Merry in 1866. Finally, he was appointed organist at La Trinité in 1869, with a new Cavaillé-Coll organ, remaining there until his premature death at age 34 of phthisis.

Chauvet was known for his performances of J. S. Bach and for his improvisations, and was regularly invited to participate in the inauguration of organs of Paris, with Édouard Batiste, César Franck and Camille Saint-Saëns. He was a refined and gifted musician, and was considered as one of the most brilliant composers for the organ, along with his friend César Franck, who dedicated to him his "Fantasy in C major, op. 16" to him.

I had heard of Chauvet, but really did not know any of his music. It was only the recent fine uploads by Wolfram Syre of some of his music recently, that made me think of him, so, THANK YOU, Wolfram! :-)

His largest group of organ works are the "Vingt morceaux pour orgue", which date from (1863), and from which all three of these pieces are taken.

The first is a brief but sadly intense "duet" for Trompette and Gambe, and reminded me of some of the miniatures by Leon Boellmann.

The music is attached below.