Prélude funèbre, from 6 pièces

Prélude funèbre is the first one of Ropartz "6 pièces pour grand-orgue". Ropartz has been a devoted Franck's pupil and this prélude is among the most franckian Ropartz' pieces. If the "Fantaisie" http://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/19824
(ashamed for such shameless self promotion), another one from the 6, is somewhat a young sister of Franck's Fantaisie en la, the Prélude funèbre could be as a young brother of Franck's Prière. As the Prière, it sings from the first to the last note with a restrained sadness.

-it begins with the main lyrical theme, softly first and then a bit loudlier ;
- at 2'05 there is new episode with quotations from the "Dies Irae" at the pedal ;
- at 3'45, the first theme comes back and then the atmosphere becomes more and more agitated and leads to a climax ;
- from 5'15 the piece goes to its end in a more and more serene way, first with the Dies Irae transposed in major and last with the first theme transposed too in major. The very last bars are quite aetheral.

BTW : sorry for the premature piston pushing at 3'47 :-(