Composer

:

Pierre Cochereau

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

:

23:35

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Pierre Cochereau's "Variations sur Frère Jacques" is a piece for organ that was composed in 1963. It premiered on June 22, 1963, at the inauguration of the new organ at Notre-Dame de Paris, where Cochereau was the titular organist. The piece consists of eight variations on the well-known French nursery rhyme "Frère Jacques." The first variation is a simple statement of the melody in the pedal, while the second variation features a more complex accompaniment in the manuals. The third variation is a lively scherzo, with the melody played in the pedals and the manuals alternating between staccato and legato passages. The fourth variation is a gentle and lyrical adagio, with the melody played in the manuals and the pedals providing a sustained bass line. The fifth variation is a toccata-like section, with the melody played in the manuals and the pedals providing a virtuosic accompaniment. The sixth variation is a fugue, with the melody presented in a contrapuntal texture. The seventh variation is a slow and contemplative section, with the melody played in the pedals and the manuals providing a gentle accompaniment. The final variation is a grand and triumphant statement of the melody, with the pedals providing a powerful bass line and the manuals playing a virtuosic accompaniment. Cochereau's "Variations sur Frère Jacques" is characterized by its inventive use of the organ's resources, including its wide range of timbres, its ability to sustain notes, and its powerful bass. The piece also showcases Cochereau's virtuosic technique and his mastery of counterpoint and harmony. Overall, "Variations sur Frère Jacques" is a tour de force of organ music that demonstrates the full range of the instrument's capabilities.

More....