No. 1 (Quatre Élevations)

Jean-Jacques Grunenwald (2 February 1911–19 December 1982), was a French organist, composer, architect, and pedagogue, was born in Cran-Gevrier, Haute-Savoie. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he received first prizes in organ (1935, class of Marcel Dupré) and composition (1937, class of Henri Busser). Two years later, Grunenwald won the prestigious Second Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata, La farce du Mari fondu. Additionally to his musical education, Grunenwald was enrolled at the École National des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he graduated in 1941 with a diploma in architecture.

In 1955, Grunenwald became organist at St. Pierre-de-Montrouge in Paris. Two years later, he began a recording of the complete organ works of J. S. Bach on 24 LPs, which he completed in 1962. This recording was made at Soissons Cathedral with its Gonzales organ. From 1957-1961, he was professor of organ at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, from 1961-1966 organ teacher at the Geneva Conservatory.

In January 1973, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald succeeded his former teacher, Marcel Dupré, as titular organist at St. Sulpice in Paris. He held this post until his death in 1982 at age 71. As an internationally acknowledged concert organist, he played more than 1,500 recitals worldwide.

His catalog of compositions contains numerous organ and piano works, chamber music, orchestral works, oratorios, as well as music written for several films, such as "Monsieur Vincent" (1947).

"Quatre Élevations" were composed in 1939. They sound like a "mix" of Langlais and early Messiaen. These pieces were "liturgical interludes" that would have been played "quietly and mystically" during the consecration and elevation of the Sacred Host.

I received this piece, and several others, from one of our members who was a student of Grunenwald's. I am encouraging him to become an uploader! :-)