French organ school

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The French organ school formed in the the first half of the 17th century. It progressed from the strict polyphonic music of Jean Titelouze (ca 1563–1633) to a unique, richly ornamented style with its own characteristic forms that made full use of the French classical organ. Instrumental in establishing this style were Louis Couperin (ca 1626–1661), who experimented with structure, registration and melodic lines, expanding the traditional polyphonic forms, and Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers (1632–1714), who established the distinct forms and styles of what was to become the French organ tradition.

Contents

[edit] Characteristic forms

  • Récit
  • Dialogue
  • Echo
  • Plein jeu
  • Duo
  • Trio
  • Fugue
  • Quatuor

[edit] Composers

[edit] First period: the development of free polyphony

[edit] Second period: the establishing of the French Classical Organ School

[edit] Third period: 18th century

[edit] References and further reading

  • Fenner Douglass. The Language of the Classical French Organ: A Musical Tradition Before 1800. Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 0300064268
  • Willi Apel. The History of Keyboard Music to 1700. Translated by Hans Tischler. Indiana University Press, 1972. ISBN 0-253-21141-7. Originally published as Geschichte der Orgel- und Klaviermusik bis 1700 by Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel.
  • Barbara Owen. The Registration of Baroque Organ Music. Indiana University Press, 1997. ISBN 0253210852
  • Alexander Silbiger. Keyboard Music Before 1700. Routledge, 2004. ISBN 0415968917

[edit] See also

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