Noel Parisien

Charles Paul Florimond Quef (1 November 1873, Lille – 2 July 1931, Paris) was a French organist and composer.

He studied at the conservatory in Lille and after absolving it, he attended Paris Conservatory, where he studied together with Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne and Alexandre Guilmant. From 1895 to 1898, he was organist of the Église Sainte-Marie-des-Batignolles and in 1898, organist of the Saint-Laurent church, Paris. In the same year, he was awarded the First prize for organ at the conservatory. Then he was appointed assistant organist and later, in November 1901, titular organist of the Église de la Ste.-Trinité, Paris, due to resignation of his predecessor Guilmant. He retained this post until his death in 1931.

This 19th century French toccata style Noël by Charles Quef demonstrates the French Romantic capability of the Christ Cathedral Arboretum organ. (played live by Charles Raasch)

Sample set available HERE: http://www.evensongmusic.net/?page_id=2598