Sept Pièces en ut majeur et en ut mineur

The complete first set of pieces in "L'Organiste" by Franck. This time I've given the full title in French.

"L'Organiste" is a collection of 2-stave organ works specifically written and registered for a typical French harmonium of 4 ranks (16.8.8.4 divided at Middle E/Middle F). It was composed in the last months of Franck's life during August and September 1890, in between sessions when he was composing the "Trois Chorales." for organ Franck's original plan was to write 91 with 7 in each key. Each group of pieces involved 6 short works, plus a seventh extended work which made thematic reference to the previous pieces in the set. At the time of his death on 8th November 1890 only 63 pieces had been completed, of which 59 were subsequently published in 1892.

This performance uses the Silver Octopus Harmonium sample set. Although strictly speaking it's not a French harmonium as envisaged by Franck, its sounds have been adapted to match as closely as possible the registration indications marked on the scores in the 1892 edition.

The sample set itself is dry. Reverberation has been added using a "Medium Room" IR in "Reverberate" by Liquid Sonics, running inside Reaper.

Timings of individual pieces are:

0.00 – Poco allegretto (C major)

1.50 – Andantino (C major)

3.23 – Poco lento (C major)

5.43 – Maestoso (C minor)

7.03 – Poco lento (C minor)

8.40 – Poco allegro (C minor) plus Amen (C major)

10.42 – Offertoire in C major/minor

End – 17.00