All Souls’ Church Langham PlaceLondon W1

2008 International Organ Series

Monday 17 November 7.30pm

Homage to Jeanne Demessieux 1921-1968

The 2008 recital season concludes with a concert that pays tribute to the legendary Jeanne Demessieux – one of the giants of the organ – and marks the 40th anniversary of her untimely death

D’Arcy Trinkwonperforms WIDORHANDELLISZTand the UK premier of Demessieux’s Répons pour les temps liturgiques and the complete Six Études, Op.5

ADMISSION BY PROGRAMME £7.50 (concessions £5) All Souls Church, Langham Place, London W1Tel: 020 7580 3522www.allsouls.org www.darcytrinkwon.comTube: Oxford Circus

JEANNE DEMESSIEUX was a legend. This concert honours that legend.

One of the most famous organists in the world – Demessieux ranked alongside the names of such as Dupré, Germani, Peeters, Thalben-Ball and Virgil Fox, she was the first woman organist to achieve international celebrity.  The pupil and protégée of Marcel Dupré, her famous début series of recitals at Paris’ Salle Pleyel in 1946 launched her fame throughout the capitals of Europe, to be followed by North America. Prodigiously talented from her earliest years, she became known as a musician of phenomenal gifts and a technical mastery that was the awe of all – such that it prompted Duruflé to say “next to Jeanne Demessieux, the rest of us play like elephants!”. The first woman to give recitals in many of the great cathedrals and concert halls, she was a regular visitor to the British Isles, and played in all the most major venues - including Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Royal Festival Hall, the Proms, St George’s Hall Liverpool etc. Her final recital in England was one of the four recitals celebrating the opening of the then new Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in 1967.  

Her remarkable recordings of Franck were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque in 1960 and were made on the organ of the Madeleine in Paris where she was Organist from 1962 until her death. She had agreed to record the complete works of Messiaen there with Decca, a project never realised due to her premature death. Jeanne Demessieux died on 11 November 1968 – aged only 47 - after many years battling against illness and health problems. This recital marks 40 years since her death and celebrates her remarkable career. She herself played several recitals in All Souls. D’Arcy Trinkwon’s dynamic programme includes a complete performance of her famous Six Etudes as well as other music that she herself played in concerts at All Souls. In also includes the London premier of her Répons pour les temps liturgiques. 

Vice-President of Les Amis de Jeanne Demessieux, D’Arcy has been fascinated by this great artist since his earliest years at the organ; he has made a particular study of her life, works and playing.

He has given numerous performances of her works and in 1994 gave the first complete UK performance of her famous Six Etudes – works regarded as the very pinnacle of pedal virtuosity. Only Demessieux herself and her pupil Pierre Labric have played these complete. www.darcytrinkwon.com

Programme

WIDOR Allegro (from Symphony Op.42 No.6 in G minor)HANDEL Organ Concerto Op.4 No.1 in G minor

*cadenzas by Jeanne DemessieuxDEMESSIEUX Répons pour les temps liturgiques

* UK first performanceFRANCK Choral No.3 in A minor

LISZT Funérailles ~ arr. Jeanne DemessieuxDEMESSIEUX Choral-paraphrase ‘Attende Domine’

Six Études, Op.5

All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, W1 Tel: 020 7580 3522www.allsouls.org