Composer

:

Jehan Alain

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Chorale

Compose Date

:

1934

Publication Date

:

1943

First Performance

:

1934

Average_duration

:

1:33

Jehan Alain's 'Choral Cistercien pour une Élévation' is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that was composed in 1937. The piece was premiered in the same year at the Église Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet in Paris. It is a work for organ and is part of Alain's larger body of work for the instrument. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is characterized by a different mood and tempo. The first movement is marked 'Lent' (slow) and is a quiet and contemplative piece that features a simple melody played on the organ's flutes. The second movement is marked 'Modéré' (moderate) and is more lively and rhythmic than the first. It features a more complex melody played on the organ's reeds. The third movement is marked 'Lent' (slow) and is a return to the contemplative mood of the first movement. It features a beautiful melody played on the organ's strings. One of the most striking characteristics of 'Choral Cistercien pour une Élévation' is its use of silence. Alain was a master of using silence to create tension and drama in his music, and this piece is no exception. The pauses between the notes are just as important as the notes themselves, and they give the piece a sense of stillness and contemplation. Another characteristic of the piece is its use of harmony. Alain was known for his innovative use of harmony, and this piece is no exception. The harmonies are often unexpected and surprising, and they give the piece a sense of mystery and intrigue. Overall, 'Choral Cistercien pour une Élévation' is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that showcases Alain's mastery of the organ. Its use of silence and harmony make it a unique and memorable work that is still performed and admired today.

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