Quentin du Verdier organ
Thomas Van Essen voice
Volny Hostiou serpent

Recorded at the church of Champcueil in October 2022
In partnership with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris

Think of the “French organ”, and François Couperin and Louis Marchand spring to mind. This can mean the Classical period appears to have been the first “key time” in our instrument’s history.
However, having arrived in France in the year 757 under King of the Franks Pepin the Short, the organ saw a wide variety of musical styles from the early Middle Ages to the Classical period. Unfortunately, most of these styles are but distant memories or completely unknown to us because we are missing the relevant scores and archives. That said, things become clearer from the Renaissance thanks to the invention of the printing press, which allowed scores to be more widely produced and subsequently preserved to this day.
This musical panorama therefore takes in the famous early French organ works of the Renaissance, through the Franco-Flemish School in the late 16th century, right up to composers of the Classical era. What’s more, thanks to the Les Meslanges ensemble represented by Thomas Van Essen and Volny Hostiou, you will hear Gregorian plainchant between the works. In this particular context, this repertoire intimately linked to plainchant truly comes into its own.

Press review

“A very fine recording by the talented young organist Quentin du Verdier […] He will be one of the names to remember in the very near future” Rodolphe Bruneau-Boulmier, France Musique – 12 June 2023

“More than ever, the art of discourse is present, enhanced by subtle, perfectly integrated ornaments, all magnificently thought out and applied with inspiration by the performer“. Frédéric Muñoz, Resmusica – 17 July 2023

“The result is remarkable” Hélène Biard, cult.news – 8 March 2024

1. Anonyme, édité par Pierre Attaignant en 1531, Kyrie, Messe Cunctipotens
Plain-chant : manuscrit parisien de la fin du XIIIème siècle

2-5. Jehan Titelouze Hymne Ad Cænam agni providi
Plain-chant : reconstitué à partir du premier verset de Titelouze

6-7. Charles Racquet Fantaisie sur le Regina Cæli
Plain-chant : Jean de Bournonville, Regina Coeli

8. Louis Couperin Prélude OL 46
9. Louis Couperin Fantaisie OL 2
10. Louis Couperin Fantaisie OL 58
11. Louis Couperin Fantaisie OL 12
12. Louis Couperin Fantaisie OL 26
13. Louis Couperin Fantaisie OL 59

14-16. Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers Sanctus et Benedictus, Messe Cunctipotens
Plain-chant : Graduale Romanum…, de Paschal et Berthod

17-21. Nicolas de Grigny Kyrie, Messe Cunctipotens
Plain chant : Graduale Romanum ad usum abbatiae regalis Sancti Petri Remensis