Composer

:

Charles-Marie Widor

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1934

Average_duration

:

14:37

Charles-Marie Widor's 'Nouvelles Pièces (3), Op. 87' is a set of three pieces for organ, composed in 1914. The premiere of the work took place on May 17, 1915, at the Église Saint-Sulpice in Paris, where Widor served as the titular organist for over six decades. The first movement, marked 'Allegro vivace', is a lively and energetic piece in 6/8 time. It begins with a fanfare-like motif in the pedals, which is then taken up by the manuals. The music is characterized by its rhythmic drive and virtuosic flourishes, as well as its use of chromatic harmonies and unexpected modulations. The second movement, marked 'Andante sostenuto', is a more contemplative piece in 4/4 time. It features a lyrical melody in the right hand, accompanied by gentle arpeggios in the left hand and a sustained pedal note. The music is characterized by its expressive phrasing and use of rubato, as well as its rich harmonies and subtle shifts in tonality. The third and final movement, marked 'Allegro molto', is a fast and furious piece in 2/4 time. It begins with a toccata-like passage in the manuals, accompanied by a driving pedal line. The music is characterized by its virtuosic figurations and rapid-fire rhythms, as well as its use of syncopation and hemiola. Overall, 'Nouvelles Pièces (3), Op. 87' is a showcase of Widor's mastery of the organ and his ability to create music that is both technically demanding and musically expressive. The work is a testament to Widor's enduring legacy as one of the most important composers and performers of organ music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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