Composer

:

Joseph Jongen

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

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1902

Average_duration

:

15:15

Fantaisie sur deux Noëls populaires wallons, Op. 24 is a composition for organ by Belgian composer Joseph Jongen. It was composed in 1913 and premiered on December 21, 1913, at the Cathedral of Saint-Aubain in Namur, Belgium. The piece consists of two movements, each based on a traditional Walloon Christmas carol. The first movement, marked "Lent et expressif," is based on the carol "Noël nouvelet." It begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the upper register of the organ, accompanied by a simple, chordal accompaniment in the lower register. The melody is then passed to the lower register, while the upper register plays a more elaborate counterpoint. The movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet, reflective coda. The second movement, marked "Allegro giocoso," is based on the carol "Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris." It is a lively, playful piece, with a jaunty melody in the upper register and a bouncy, syncopated accompaniment in the lower register. The melody is passed between the registers, with the accompaniment becoming increasingly complex and virtuosic. The movement ends with a triumphant flourish. Jongen's Fantaisie sur deux Noëls populaires wallons is characterized by its lyrical melodies, lush harmonies, and virtuosic organ writing. It is a popular piece in the organ repertoire, and is often performed during the Christmas season.

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