Today was a day of transformational learning for our group. We began with an improvisation workshop at the American Church Paris, taught by Peter Bannister, Associate Artistic Director and Composer-in-Association, SOLI DEO GLORIA Inc., and an associate musician at ACP. Peter was a patient, gracious teacher and spent time with each of the students individually, working on improvising in a given context, exploring chords while listening carefully, maintaining rhythm and not being afraid to develop musical ideas. The church's 1988 tracker organ by the Hamburg builder, Rudolph von Beckerath (3/47) was an amiable partner with its beautifully voiced combinations and eclectic specification. It was good to experience sounds that are different from the various, large Cavaille-Coll organs that we have been playing and listening to during the past week. All of the class did very well, even some who said "I've never improvised before" and everyone had something musically interesting to contribute. Thank you Peter for sharing your gifts and encouraging us to develop ours!
At 1:30 we were again hosted by Frederic Blanc, Artistic Director of the Durufle Association and the organist of Notre-Dame d'Auteuil in the 16th district, where he graciously invited us for an extensive visit. This lesser-known church across the street from a house where Moliere once lived houses an exquisite example of Aristide Cavaille-Coll's work, a three-manual organ begun in 1884. It is in pristine condition and sings in the generous, long acoustic of the sturdy, Romanesque eglise d'Auteuil. Monsieur Blanc is a gifted improviser and put the grand instrument through its paces, demonstrating the sheer beauty of the individual stops, especially the flutes (flutes, flutes!) and the thundering power of the grand-choeur (full organ) with the pedal bombardes. He then offered an interpretation master class allowing each student to "have the pleasure [of playing]" this special organ. Everyone played beautifully and accepted Monsieur Blanc's spirited critiques and suggestions with interest and grace. He is a natural teacher. In order the repertoire played was Piece Heroique (Trois Piece) by Cesar Franck, La Cathedrale (Pieces de Phantasie) by Louie Vierne, Placare Christi Servulis (Le Tombeau de Titelouze, Op. 38) by Marcel Dupre, Toccata in b minor by Eugene Gigout, Variations on a Theme of Clement Jannequin by Jehan Alain and Prelude, Fugue and Variation, Op. 18 by Franck. I was very proud of our students! It isn't easy to sit down cold at a big instrument and make music, but each of them did. Monsieur Blanc is passionate about making music and admonished each of the students to "believe in yourself!" Everyone of them has a musical personality to be heard. "Let us hear even more of what I know is inside you," he said enthusiastically. "You are already an artist!" The afternoon sun through the windows and the gift of time in a sacred space with a gorgeous instrument all contributed to an emotional experience of beauty, sound and aesthetics that will remain with these students (and their teacher) forever. Merci Monsieur Blanc! -- GP
