Vincent Dubois, the titular organist of Notre-Dame de Paris, chose repertoire and transcriptions for this album to honor the cathedral's composer-organists, improvisers, and arrangers.
Instruments
The Great Organ of Notre-Dame de Paris, built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1868, was designed to be a 'mirror of the orchestra'.
Composer Biography
Louis Vierne, titular organist of Notre-Dame's Great Organ from 1900 to 1937, is credited with restoring the instrument's worldwide reputation and bridging the Cavaillé-Coll era with that of Pierre Cochereau.
Instruments
The Great Organ of Notre-Dame de Paris has undergone several major stages of construction and restoration, including significant work by François Thierry in 1733 and Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in 1868.
Interpretation
Organist Vincent Dubois believes that transcription should not just reproduce but also shed new light on the original work by exploring orchestral colors through the organ's unique timbres.
Recording & Production
This album showcases the Great Organ of Notre-Dame de Paris after its renovation and the cathedral's reopening, featuring its preserved harmony but with altered tonal color due to stone cleaning.
Compositional Technique
The Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach, despite questions about its authenticity, is likely an early work inspired by North German masters, featuring dazzling, improvisatory episodes.
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