Marcel Dupré plays Prelude and Fugue op36 no.2

Dupré playing his own composition, this time from the 2nd set of Preludes and Fugues Op.36, of this set, this is my favourite. This second set is more laid back on comparison to the first Op.7, and sadly very rarely recorded.
I've just about used all the pictures of St Sulpice I could find, so instead I have included some other Parisian churches and landmarks to fill the void. Hope you like them :-)
The last Dupré track to put up will be no.3 from Op.36, the end of that fugue gets really exciting, all the superb reeds come out to play! His playing is just lovely, never rushing or playing too loud for effect...
In future I'll post some of Dupré's improvisations, where his true genius lay.

[@davidmiller2874]

Bought the Vinyl LP in early 70s in Washington DC. Got the score from Pittsburgh, Listened to it 1000 times, took me maybe 4 years to learn to play it. Both my Organ teachers said they never heard of this piece. It is hard as hell to play. My doctoral professor said: "I thought it would never end" Double Fugue. My favorite piece of music.

[@originaltommy]

Those fonds.... sublime.

[@Savurov-nz9zj]

Still have the LP I purchased 2nd-hand around 1980. That sustained low pedal (A Flat ?) through the changing harmonie above it just knocks my socks off. This is one of those works that I can listen to again, again and again - and never tire of it.

[@originaltommy]

The well-spring from whence Cochereau flourished... Amazing!

[@drgaryb13]

Magnificent and haunting.

[@organum74]

This is my favourite Dupré's Prélude et Fugue. The double fuga is wonderful.

[@davidmiller6160]

Yes, absolutely wonderful.

[@alcyonecrucis]

I can’t get his harmony.. how does he get it so epic!

[@peteacher52]

Wow! This makes a fascinating comparison or contrast with, that other great Parisian organist also recorded at a Cavaille-Coll in 1959, and that was, of course, Jeanne Demessieux at la Madeleine playing Franck. Thank you indeed, for the posting.

[@jockboy69]

This is also my favorite P&F by Dupre. I have always loved this recording. I have the score, and am going to get off my duff and learn this piece. Difficult, but not impossible. The double fugue has an astounding effect towards the end. Only Dupre could write something like this. No doubt he improvised pieces just as complicated, or more so: Passion Symphony, etc.

[@davidmiller6160]

jockboy69 Surprised, and pleased, that you love this piece or organ music.... it is my ALL TIME FAVORITE... I spent 3 years learning to play it... my score dates from about 1970... I've performed it many times... Every organist knows Dupre, but seems like very few people know this piece (even my two organ professors didn't know this piece!!) And this is I think the exact same recording I have on vinyl LP long time ago, and it is so wonderful to hear Dupre play it as it was meant to be played.... so may organists play it way too fast, and make abrupt transitions where Dupre just makes these transitions so smooth.... that's where I learned to play the piece === listening to Dupre himself !!

[@urbanviii6557]

+David Miller You're lucky to have got this under your fingers so long ago. I intend to do the same. I have played some of the most difficult pieces ever written for the organ, but this will be up there at the top of the list: Les yeux dans les roues of Messiaen; Reger, Op. 73 Intro, Variations and Fugue, etc., and all of that from memory. Even with those pieces under my belt, this is still difficult.

[@davidmiller6160]

Yes - my favorite piece of organ music. I spent more than 2 years learning it. Performed it multiple times. yes it's hard, but well worth it. Yes the ending is astounding. The best recording of it is Dupre himself from the vinyl LP from 1959. If you want to learn to play it right - you must listen to the recording of Dupre himself playing it. And listen again, and again. This is what I did, starting in 1972. Neither of my 2 organ teachers knew the piece. Not many organists know this piece -- but to me it's one of Dupre's greatest works.

[@jockboy69]

@@davidmiller6160 There are several errors in the printed score, which I have in my copy but which I have the correct notes. On a bona-fide authority. If you want them let me know, and I will tell what measure and what notes are wrong.

[@davidmiller6160]

jockboy69 yes please tell me what you think are errors in the score.... but also be sure to tell me what edition you are talking about. Thanks!

[@wilhakkaart5116]

He never met Cavaille-Coll when he was mature, only when he was an young child. Cavaille Coll recognised his talent and ambition en directed him to the right teachers and great musicians to develope his talents. And were we dissapaointed? I don't think so. You know he also played in some early movies as an actor? Check imdb: www.imdb.com/name/nm1366839/ He was multi talented

[@marsvltor2]

Utterly magnificent - and very interesting to compare with Roth on CD... This is a wonderful piece - more mature and less ostentatiously 'flashy' than the outer Op7s... Regards Paul

[@bobchallinor6277]

I love this prelude and fugue. I'm an non-organist, but I admire how Dupre coupled the agitated prelude with the serene fugue. It's so beautiful. The fugue is transdescent.

[@davidmiller6160]

Yes, Daniel Roth is simply magnificent, fantastic organist... I love to watch him play .........but there is just something very special about hearing the composer himself, Marcel Dupre, playing his own music. That old vinyl LP, recorded in 1959, is the one I listened to a million times, to learn the P&F Op 36 No2. I bought the record in 1972 in Washington DC at the gift shop of the National Shrine, when our organ instructor took our organ class on a tour of the organs in DC. Seems like a lifetime ago. I still have my original score, cherished possession.

[@mayernbunchenfan]

Op.36 not 7...

[@logica10]

Outstanding.

[@logica10]

impressive ending. Dupré is such magnificent composer and better organist.

[@JFSnail]

The famous Wanamaker Organ console in what was the Wanamaker Store, now branded Macys in Philadelphia.

[@organum74]

Dupré is playing here on his organ at St Sulpice in Paris. I had the record, but I am not sure it is re-edited in a CD.

[@davidmiller6160]

If you have that record, then you and I have the same vinyl LP, recorded in 1959. As far as I know, it was never put out on any CD. I bought my copy in 1972 in Washington DC at the National Shrine in their gift shop. Our organ class took a tour of organs in DC.

[@georgemurphy2579]

@@davidmiller6160 I believe that Mercury released ALL of his Living Presence recordings about eight years ago in a box set. One problem - it is now out of circulation and if you can find a new copy, it will be several hundred dollars.

[@phebus2005]

At first, the church on the photo is St-Eustache, NOT St-Sulpice, where Dupré was the resident organist.

[@redjsbach]

Beautiful! Ho studiato questo brano... molto difficile... ma ne vale la pena! Curioso sentirlo suonato direttamente da Dupré... forse è un po' lento, però...

[@columbamccann5367]

In Jeanne Demessieux's diary she mentions a conversation with Dupré in which they both agreed that the metronome marking on the published score of this piece was too fast

[@ChuckyJesus666]

Lord, have mercy on my solo.....

[@sergeguillot]

une oeuvre geniale savamment ecrite, mais tres difficile a jouer .

[@keplergso8369]

Sacrément difficile, en effet ! Ce qui explique peut-être pourquoi elle est si peu exécutée, pourtant c'est un pur chef-d'œuvre !