Pierre Cochereau: L'Improvisateur Extraordinaire

• Main performer: Jeremy Filsell
• Booklet languages: English, French, German
• Time: 62:45
• Release Date: 2001

Review

Organ improvisations exist in real time, and before the advent of recording, there was really no way to preserve them for posterity. French composer Pierre Cochereau (1924 - 1984) was fortunate in that several of his improvisations were recorded. As Cochereau's own recordings of these works all survive, what is the advantage of recording them anew? For one thing, the "King of Instruments" has one of the most notoriously difficult voices to record, and it would have been impossible for Cochereau, in his time, to obtain a unified result due to varying conditions of technology and other unpredictable elements.

Organist Jeremy Filsell is forced to rely on his ear to get the notes as played "right" and to select registrations that match those of Cochereau. Filsell chooses the organ of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral with truly spectacular results. The Symphony Improviseé is the highlight work on this disc, and the clear and spacious ASV Digital recording puts you in the driver's seat for experiencing the full range of multi-layered complexity in Cochereau's music. The "Marsellaise" and its variations are dark works that have a grave and somewhat sinister character and are in keeping with the occasions for which they were created; the first Improvisation was heard at President Charles de Gaulle's funeral. The Adeste Fideles Variations demonstrate the range of Cochereau's approach in microcosm, beginning mystically and gradually becoming transformed into an expression of majesty and brightness. The Easter Alleluia is almost the exact opposite; from the first it exudes childlike joy and charm, however tempered with the sophistication of a adult visionary, and it makes most effective use of the flute stops on the instrument. The Scherzo is a brightly colored and exciting virtuoso piece that centers on a jig-like dance figure. ~ Uncle Dave Lewis , Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle	La Marseillaise (National Anthem, French Republic) (Arranged for the Funeral of General De Gaulle)	2:10
Pierre Cochereau	Sortie improvisée sur 'La Marsellaise', for organ	7:26
Pierre Cochereau	Variations sur 'Adeste Fideles', for organ	10:50
Pierre Cochereau	Symphonie improvisée, for organ (Boston)	28:03
Pierre Cochereau	Alleluia de Pâques, chorale for organ	6:26
Pierre Cochereau	Scherzo symphonique, for organ	7:50

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