Organ Works IV: Symphony No.4 Op.32

Vierne Organ Works IV: Symphony No.4 Op.32

Louis Vierne (1870-1937) was a private student of César Franck and was appointed Titular Organist of Notre Dame de Paris in the year 1900. Numerous concert tours of Europe and the USA helped him achieve world renown. His circle of students included Marcel Dupré, whose own pupil, Thierry Escaich, has assisted with this edition.

Vierne’s compositions are masterpieces of organ music and form a central part of the instrument’s more demanding repertoire. Vierne brought the organ symphony as a genre to its peak and significantly influenced the development of organ technique worldwide. 

Vierne’s Symphony No.4 is one of the most important works in the organ repertoire.  Until now it was thought to have originated during the three months of summer 1914.  However, the editor has discovered a letter from Vierne, dated 23 June 1914, that disproves any connection with events of war.  As a result, the work has been chronologically reclassified, leading to its fresh assessment and interpretation – see the detailed Foreword in this new edition for further information.

The registration of this seminal work in the organ literature is in parts reminiscent of César Franck’s Chorale in B minor. In general terms, Franck’s influence was already singled out by reviewers of the first performance.

- Includes a comprehensive critical commentary (Fr/Eng/Ger)

- Foreword with details on performance practice (Fr/Eng/Ger)

- Numerous illustrations and facsimile pages