Composer

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Charles Tournemire

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Keyboard

Compose Date

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1931

Charles Tournemire's L'orgue mystique: Cycle après la Pentecôte, Op. 57 is a monumental work for the organ, consisting of 51 sets of pieces, one for each Sunday and feast day in the liturgical year after Pentecost. The cycle was composed between 1927 and 1932 and premiered in its entirety at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur in Paris in 1932. The cycle is divided into three parts, each containing 17 sets of pieces. The first part covers the Sundays after Pentecost, the second part covers the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the third part covers the feasts of the Saints. Each set of pieces includes an Introit, Offertory, and Communion, as well as additional pieces for the procession and recession. The music of L'orgue mystique is characterized by its rich harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and use of Gregorian chant. Tournemire was deeply influenced by the music of Bach and the French Baroque, and this is evident in the contrapuntal writing and use of fugues throughout the cycle. However, Tournemire also incorporated elements of modernism, such as dissonant harmonies and unconventional chord progressions. The cycle is notable for its use of symbolism and mysticism. Tournemire believed that the organ was a spiritual instrument capable of expressing the mysteries of the Catholic faith, and he sought to convey this through his music. Each set of pieces is associated with a particular theme or symbol, such as the Holy Trinity, the Eucharist, or the Resurrection. Tournemire also incorporated numerology into the cycle, with each set of pieces containing a specific number of movements and each movement containing a specific number of bars. L'orgue mystique is considered one of the greatest works for the organ in the 20th century and has been praised for its depth, beauty, and spiritual power. It remains a popular and frequently performed work in the organ repertoire.

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