Elégie (for the anniversary of Vierne's death, 2 juin 1937)

Today is the anniversary of Vierne’s death, which happened on 1937, June the 2th , during a recital at Notre-Dame (a pdf of the recital’s planned program is attached).

Vierne had very bad relations with Notre-Dame’s clergy and the clergy had decided that this June 1937 recital would be the last one and that the organ would then be used only for services. Vierne was to play first his Triptyque and then improvise. In a second part, Duruflé would have played extracts from Pièces de fantaisie and from 6th Symphony.

At the end of the Triptyque, Vierne was pale an his right hand was trembling. Then, there was a long E bass note on the pedal. People thought it was the beginning of the improvisation on gregorian themes ; but Vierne had fainted and couldn’t be reanimated.

Source : after Rollin Smith’s “Louis Vierne”

So, Notre-Dame’s clergy or not Notre-Dames clergy, it was to be Vierne’s last recital.

The upload of Vierne's Elégie, from 24 Pièces en style libre, would like to be a small tribute to Vierne’s memory. It’s a small and relatively simple piece, but all Vierne is here. He could write big fierce and difficult pieces but he also could write much music with few notes and few stops. Vive Vierne !!!!!!