O Filii et Filiae

Clément Loret, born in Dendermonde (Termonde) in Belgium in 1833, died in Colombes, near Paris, on 14 February 1909 is an organist, teacher, and composer of Belgian origin, naturalized French. His father, Hippolyte, organist (at Notre Dame of Dendermonde) and organ builder, introduced him very young music and organ. He began playing at the Church at age 7, and the following year occasionally replaced his father at the console. In 1846, his father was appointed organist in Mons, and the young Clement continued his musical studies with Jules Denefve (1814-1877).Admitted to the Brussels Conservatory in 1851, he was pupil of Lemmens for organ and Fétis in counterpoint. He obtained a first prize in organ in 1853.In 1855, Loret came to Paris. Lemmens had written him a letter of introduction from Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who was so impressed by the young man that he dare present it to his knowledge. However, he met with Victor Mustel, harmoniums factor, who decided to stay. He therefore held organist positions at Suresnes and Notre Dame des Victoires. Then he was named holder of the new Cavaillé-Coll organ of the national Basilica dedicated to sainte Geneviève (now the Panthéon de Paris) under the Second Empire, from 1855 to 1885; and occupied the tribune de Saint Louis d'Antin, where Niedermeyer was Kapellmeister, from 1858 to 1866.Appointed Professor of organ at the Niedermeyer school in 1858, he formed most of French organists of the time including Fauré, Létocart, Gigout.His brother Charles, who died young, was also a musician and composer.

This piece, based on the famous Easter melody, is a straight-forward Grand Choeur and, is "uncomplicated" music, but sounds FABULOUS on the "non-extended" version of Metz! :-)