Offertoire pour Pâques sur 'O Filii et Filiæ'

Clément Loret (1833-1909) descended from a family that had already for two centuries on end produced organ builders and organists. He received his first music lessons from his father Joseph-Jean, and already as a seven-year-old he played small pieces during Mass, while one year later he was able to take on an entire Mass. In 1846 his father was appointed as organist in Mons, so Clément continued his studies with Jules Denefve, director of the local conservatory. In 1851 he was admitted at the Brussels Conservatory, where he obtained a first prize diploma for organ in 1854. He became organist of the Panthéon, the parish church of Suresnes (near Paris) and Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. In 1857 he was engaged as organ teacher at the ‘École de Musique religieuse’ of Niedermeyer. In this capacity he played an important part in the development of the French organ school, counting among his pupils Gabriël Fauré, Léon Boëllmann and Eugène Gigout. That same year at the suggestion of Niedermeyer he became organist of Saint-Louis d’Antin, a position he held at least until 1880. He composed many organ works, as well as works for the harmonium and piano music, songs and liturgical works, the majority published on his own account.

"Offertoire pour Pâques sur 'O Filii et Filiæ'" seems to turn up in many and varied collections of Easter music. I've always rejected it as it looked rather "awkward." Now that I've done it, I think that it IS awkward but still nice.

If uses the hymn, "O Filii et Filiae" as its subject matter, and sets it in sort of a "French classic manner," but infused with romantic elements. It's really quite an interesting blending of old and new styles.

In addition, the following two will use this same melody as the thematic basis for sets of variations (West & Faulkes).

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Clément Loret, and one of the Church of Saint-Louis d’Antin, and one of the
Cavaillé-Coll organ there.