Low Mass for All Saints Day

Paul Constant Eugène Malengreau (November 23, 1887-Janauary 9, 1956) was born at Trélon, Nord, France. He later changed his surname to “de Maleingreau”. From 1905 to 1912 he studied at the Brussels Conservatory where his principal teachers were Alfons Desmet, Paul Gilson and Edgar Tinel. He began teaching at the Conservatory in 1913 and was professor of organ (succeeding Desmet) from 1929 until 1953. His pupils included Pierre Froidebise, Charles Koenig, Robert Kohnen, Marcel Druart, Paul Sprimont and Herman Roelstraete. In 1921 and 1922 he was the first to play Bach’s complete organ works in Brussels. Gregorian plainsong forms the basis of most of Malengreau’s compositions, and indeed part of his output is intended for the liturgy. He also wrote programme music, his organ symphonies being inspired by paintings by Rogier van der Weyden and the van Eyck brothers. While the chromaticism and cyclic treatment of themes reveal the influence of Franck, certain harmonic progressions are typical of Impressionist music. He was a member of the Libre Académie, and died in Brussels in 1956.

He has quite a large and impressive output of organ music, and a lot of it can be found here: http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Maleingreau,_Paul_de

This work, "Low Mass for All Saints Day" is NOT listed amongst his works, but surely it MUST be from his pen! I have only seen it in the "Edition Musicus-NewYork", which published it without date.

The music stems from the "Organ Mass" tradition in France, although this modest opus would be played (improvised) at a "low Mass" - no choir, no singing, perhaps no Gloria, etc. The "movements" are short, and intended to cover the liturgical action taking place. Registrations are typically French, and the music is mystical - not far from the style of Tournemire, Dupre, etc. The music is based on the Gregorian proper melodies of the day.