Choral phrygien AWV 76, 1935

'Choral phrygien' was first published alongside 'Choral dorien' in 1938 by H. Hérelle & Cie., Paris. It was first performed in early 1936 by the American organist Virginie Bianchini (dedicatee of Litanies) in the Organ Hall of the former Paris Conservatoire building, Rue-Bergère.

Alain included a brief performance instruction in the manuscript… ‘Do not take into account the bar lines, which are there only to make for easier reading’.

An organ student of Alain’s, Father Jean Sarrazin (1937) wrote, ‘I studied with him the two chorals dorien and phrygien… I played them several times, but I really felt that this did not please him. It was difficult for me to enter into his mysticism. I wanted to dodge numerous frictions when I should have emphasised them’.

At the time this piece was written, Alain was attending the organ class of Marcel Dupré and studying composition in the class of Jean Roger-Ducasse who had replaced Paul Dukas, recently deceased. Alain would soon be appointed organist at the Church of Saint-Nicolas in Maisons-Laffitte, a post which his father had been appointed to in 1901.

In April 1935, Jehan Alain married Madeleine Payan. The couple had been friends and neighbours (46 Rue de Pologne) since childhood and Madeleine was a very close friend of Jehan’s sister Odile. Jehan and Madeleine had in fact been engaged since 1929. The relationship had not been wholly encouraged by Jehan’s parents because Madeleine’s own parents lived separately. Jehan was also being encouraged to finish his studies before marrying.

The civil wedding eventually took place on 20th April 1935 at the Mairie de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the religious ceremony took place two days later at the Church of Saint Etienne-Saint Denis in Le-Ferté-sous-Jouarre. The newly-weds moved to rooms at 87 Rue Pereire, close to the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Both the 'Choral dorien' and 'Choral phrygien' were published by Bärenreiter in 2011 as part of the complete Alain Organ Works, volumes 1-3. The editor was Helga Schauerte-Maubouet whose Critical Reports provide detailed information on each work. Her book 'Jehan Alain - Understanding his musical genius' (Dalatour) is also a must-have for organists studying the works of Alain.

Alain requires the Voix Humaine stop without tremulant. He does allow the player to use a soft Hautbois if the VH is not available. 'Si on ne possède pas de voix humaine et que le Hautbois soit très doux on pourra l'utiliser.'

The ‘new’ Solo organ at Blackburn Cathedral provides a fine example of the Voix Humaine by Wood of Huddersfield, which I have used in my recording. I also took the liberty of adding the profound 32’ Sub Principal for the final chord!

Links to locations mentioned in the video (please do let me know if any of these are copyright or incorrect):

46 Rue de Pologne - Google Maps:

L'Orgue de tribune église Saint-Nicolas - Maisons-Laffitte (Photo by Piet Bron):

Mairie de Saint-Germain-en-Laye,:

Parish Church of Saint Etienne-Saint Denis in Le-Ferté-sous-Jouarre:

87 Rue Pereire on Google Maps