Etude Héroïque Op38 (2004)

As this work's title suggests, Étude héroïque alludes to the heroic nature of organists who have conquered the king of instruments! Commissioned by the Claude-Lavoie Foundation for its Concours d'orgue de Québec 2004, it is dedicated to Madame Noëlla Genest and to the Foundation. The work was composed with various purposes in mind: 1. to provide study material to help develop the interpreter's performance skills all the while providing an interesting work for general concert use 2. Provide a new concert work of virtuosic interest 3. Provide music to help the public appreciate the varied tones, dynamics and expressions available on larger pipe organs. Étude héroïque is written in rondo form. The introduction, imposing in its stature, leads into the first refrain which is the main theme of the work. The introduction consists of two parts, the first, more majestic with massive chords (Maestoso e Energico), and the second, for solo pedal (Recitativo e Virtuoso), which reveals the scale of technical difficulty the work presents to the performer. The exposition of this first refrain (Deciso) is in fact the point-of-no-return for the performer who must remain in full control until the end of the exercise. The following section, inspired from the introductory pedal solo, brings us to a more melodic and ethereal theme (Misterioso) which could be considered as the second theme of the work. The refrain returns with ascending and descending parallel thirds and sixths followed by a more relaxing new verse. At the Tranquillo et Espressivo section, which emerges from the earlier pedal solo, a counter melody is introduced on the Oboe. Following this more pastoral section, the trumpet stops rings out the third manifestation of the refrain. The following verse consists of the second theme which melts away as it progresses in the upper registers to be followed by a new occurrence of the refrain although now evoking an early Tambourin dance. Finally the introduction's massive chords are repeated only to be followed by a new more dramatic rendering of the refrain. The second theme, which passes from pedals to manuals, joins in before the Coda. A final allusion to the pedal recitative within an evolving section of chords and chromatic passages, now all the more colourful and brilliant, provide a triumphant ending for the victorious organist.

Duration: 7mins
Available from: Les Éditions Musicales Lucarel
Price: £12.00

Listen to the composer performing her Etude Héroïque on 13th October 2007 at St Marylebone Parish Church

Procession (on Gloria XV) (1996)

The first of ‘Quatre Pèlerinages en Lorraine’ (Four Pilgrimages in Lorraine) Op30, this suite was composed in 1996, and published the same year by Europart-Music (France). It was commissioned by the publisher to represent the four departments of this region in North Eastern France, for the music Salon Musicora, in Paris. This first piece is linked to the department of the Moselle, picturing a procession in the huge medieval Cathedral of Metz. The theme is a very old Gregorian chant (Gloria/Missa XV) and the music grows as the procession evolves, from medieval language to a modern idiom, showing the relationship between tradition and modernity.

Duration: c5mins(Procession) / c20mins (Op30 complete)
Available from: Europart-Music
Price: € 25.10

Listen to the composer performing her Procession on 16th October 2007 at St Lawrence Jewry London

Intermezzo, Moto Perpetuo, and Triangle Fugue Op43 (2006)

Composed for Wayne Leupold Editions, where Rachel Laurin has been a “House Composer” since 2006, these short and easy pieces from Twelve Short Pieces Op43 (written without a pedal part) are conceived for both liturgical and concert use.

Listen to the composer performing Three Short Pieces Op43 on 16th October 2007 at St Lawrence Jewry London

Introduction and Passacaglia on a theme by Raymond Daveluy Op44 (2006)

Commissioned by the American organ builder, David M. Storey, for the inauguation of an organ he bought from the church of “Saints-Martyrs Canadiens” in Victoriaville, Québec (Canada) and reinstalled in St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, in Baltimore, Maryland (USA). This organ was originally built by Casavant & Frères, and was designed by Raymond Daveluy (native of Victoriaville) and his teacher Conrad Letendre, in the 1950’s. With this commission, Storey wished to pay tribute to the original designers of the instrument. The theme used for the Passacaglia comes from the main theme of Daveluy’s Fourth Sonata, the principal theme of the Fugue heard during Rachel Laurin's concert at St Lawrence Jewry London during the 2nd AFNOM Festival. Composed in the autumn 2006, this work was ‘officially’ premiered on October 28th 2007 in Baltimore.

Listen to the composer performing the Introduction and Passacaglia Op44 on 16th October 2007 at St Lawrence Jewry London