Berceuse de Noël (Christmas Lullaby)

Léonce de Saint-Martin was first Vierne's deputy-organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, and was appointed as organist in 1937 when Vierne died. He remained Notre-Dame's organist until his death in 1954. His successor was Pierre Cochereau.
Thre was a scandal when Saint-Martin succeeded Vierne, a scandal as the microcosmic and naughty French organ world likes them so much. Saint-Martin was considered as an amateur because he didn't come from Conservatoire de Paris, and the organ microcosm thought that the place should have been for Duruflé. After that, all the well-known French organists, but Dupré, quarantined him.

But Saint-Martin left a good deal of fine compositions, and also some recordings which demonstrate that he was a skilled organist. He is reputed, too, as having been a kind, good and honest man.

This berceuse is a warm intimate piece :
- 0:00 an impressionistic introduction
- 0:37 the gently rollicking main theme
- 1:55 a more animated and chromatic section
- 2:30 back to the smiling quietness of the main theme until the conclusion.
This upload was recorded a year ago, at Christmas 2017.