2 pieces (Parnasse)

Two fine pieces by Marc de Ranse (from the “Parnasse des Organistes du XXme siècle’) in one recording:

1 Communion (0:00), a quiet and sweet meditative piece, simple and beautiful, played on the softer foundations
2 Marche religieuse (04:31), a light march, with a solid ending

With some help I found this information about this composer:
François-Marie Dieudonné Marc, Baron de Ranse (20 April 1881 – 12 February 1951) was a French pianist, organist, maître de chapelle, choral conductor and composer.

Ranse was a student of Vincent d’Indy at the Schola Cantorum de Paris.
Among his professors were Vincent d’Indy (music composition), Léon de Saint-Réquier then Fernand de La Tombelle (harmony), Albert Roussel (counterpoint), Gabriel Grovlez (piano), Charles Bordes (vocal ensemble), Abel Decaux (organ (1st degree), Alexandre Guilmant (orgue supérieur), Amédée Gastoué (Gregorian studies).
After his musical training, he began a career as a church musician. He composed pieces for organ and harmonium.
During the First World War, he joined the front.
Back in Paris in 1919, he returned to the Parisian churches as an organist. He then directed the Gregorian Institute of Paris from 1929 to 1933.
He composed numerous works for piano solo and piano with 4 hands, incidental music, harmonium and organ without pedal, grand orgue, chamber music, symphonic music, orchestration works and vocal music.
In 1921, he became choral conductor and founded the Chœur Mixte de Paris, a professional choir.
In 1927 he published the first version of Roland’s collection of popular songs.
In 1933, Ranse decided to leave Paris to return to his hometown of Aiguillon. He had inherited the title of Baron at the death of his father in 1924 and was made chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1934.
Marc de Ranse died in Agen on 12 February 1951.

Played on the inspiring Aristide sample set.

Enjoy!

Marco