Tournemire, Charles (Arnould)

views updated

Tournemire, Charles (Arnould)

Tournemire, Charles (Arnould), distinguished French organist and composer; b. Bordeaux, Jan. 22, 1870; d. Arachon, Nov. 3, 1939. He began his training as a child in Bordeaux; was only 11 when he became organist at St. Pierre, and later was organist at St. Seurin; then went to Paris, where he studied piano with Bériot, harmony with Taudou, and organ (premier prix, 1891) with Widor and Franck at the Cons.; also studied composition with d’mdy at the Schola Can-torum. He was organist at Ste. Clotilde (from 1898) and a prof, at the Cons. (from 1919); also toured Europe. His major achievement as a composer was L’Orgue mystique, comprising 51 Offices for the Roman Catholic liturgy.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Nittetis (1905-07); Les Dieux sont morts (1910-12; Paris, March 19, 1924); La Légende de Tristan (1925-26); ll Poverello di Assisi (1936-38). ORCH.: 8 syms.: No. 1, Romantique (1900), No. 2, Ouessant (Paris, April 4, 1909), No. 3, Moscou (Amsterdam, Oct. 19, 1913), No. 4, Pages symphoniques (1912-13; Paris, 1914), No. 5, Dans les Alpes (1913-14; The Hague, March 10, 1920), No. 6 for Soloist, Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1915-18), No. 7, Les Danses de la vie (1918-22), and No. 8, La Symphonie du triomphe de la mort (1920-24); Poème for Organ and Orch. (1909-10). CHAMBER: Violin Sonata (1892-93); 3 pièces for Oboe and Piano (1894); Cello Sonata (1895); Andante for Horn and Piano (1896); Suite for Viola and Piano (1897); Piano Quartet (1897-98); Piano Trio (1901); Poème for Cello and Piano (1908); Pour une épigramme de Théocrite for 3 Flutes, 2 Clarinets, and Harp (1910); Musique orante for String Quartet (1933); Sonate-poème for Violin and Piano (1935). KEYBOARD: Piano: Sérénade (1896); Sonata (1899); Sarabande (1901); Rhapsodie (1904); Poème mystique (1908); (12) Préludes-poèmes (1932); Cloches de Châteauneuf-du-Paou (1933); Études de chaque jour (1936). Organ: Andantino (1894); Sortie (1894); Offertoire (1894-95); Pièce symphonique (1899); Suite de morceaux I (1901) and II (1902); Triple choral (1901); L’Orgue mystique (1927-32); 3 poèmes (1932); 6 Fioretti (1932); Fantaisie symphonique (1933-34); Petites fleurs musicales (1933-34); 7 chorals-poèmes (1935); Postludes libres (1935); Symphonie-choral (1935); Symphonie sacrée (1936); Suite évocatrice (1938); 2 fresques symphoniques sacrées (1938-39). VOCAL: Le Sang de la sirène for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1902-03; Paris, Nov. 17, 1904); Psalm LVIIior Chorus and Orch. (1908-09); Psalm XLVI for Chorus and Orch. (1913); Trilogie: Faust-Don Quichotte-St. François d’Assise for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1916-29); La Queste du Saint-Graal for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1926-27; Lyons, Jan. 1930); Apocalypse de St. Jean for Soloists, Chorus, Organ, and Orch. (1932-35); La Douloureuse Passion du Christ for Soloists, Chorus, and Organ (1936-37); songs.

Writings

César Franck (París, 1931); Précis d’exécution, de registration et d’improvisation àl’orgue (Paris, 1936); Petite méthode d’orgue (Paris, 1949).