Marcel Lanquetuit, Toccata in D Options

[Peter Clark]

After Mass in Westminster Cathedral last Tuesday to celebrate the first anniversary of Antonio Rosmini's beatification, the organist (Martin Baker? It wasn't stated) played this Lanquetuit Toccata and I thought to myself, as did Motty in a Jeeves story, "I must see more of this lad; he sems distinctly one of the ones." Is he a "one-hit-wonder", I wonder? I see the piece has been recorded by Dame Gillian at the RAH; is there a lot of other music out there by him that is payed reghulaly by people on this forum?

Toodle-pip

Peter

[Davidb]

This piece is wonderful. As for anything else by him - never heard a thing.

A quick search on the 'MusicRoom' finds no other piece currently being published

[guilmant]

This piece is wonderful. As for anything else by him - never heard a thing.

A quick search on the 'MusicRoom' finds no other piece currently being published

Ditto, particularly the harmonic contortions on the last couple of pages. It does take quite a lot out of me physically. I remember when I was learning it, all that repeated figuration in both hands made me ache somewhat. I know it was probably down to bad posture/technique.

[Vox Humana]

Ah, yes, the lanky twit toccata. I'd never come across this until I heard DGW's recording at the RAH. I was very struck with it. Since then I've heard it two or three times and been progressively more disappointed. So my current thinking is that it doesn't wear well. But then I'm an old grump. If I was younger I'd almost certainly learn it.

[MAB]

Yes, I think this is all correct ; it is a good piece, although it is not as concise as it might be, but it needs a lot of slow and careful practice to get everything in the right place at the right time. It is physically very awkward at points, and I am not sure there is any easy way round that.

If I remember rightly it is dedicated to Marcel Dupre's father Albert, sometime organist of St Ouen, Rouen. No doubt someone will correct me if I have remembered this wrong.

I think he was definitely a 'one hit wonder'.

It has been fashionable for the past few years, and I played it a lot around 10 years ago, including at a couple of friends weddings, but have not done so since. Perhaps I should dust it off again. Whenever I played it in church, my vicar said it reminded him of Rodgers and Hammerstein - I can see his point.

I first heard it on a recording from Blackburn Cathedral ; the ending was just glorious on that organ. It was recently re - published by UMP after quite a long time out of print, but I seem to remember the score was rather expensive for 'just another toccata'.

Another piece in the same category that I have always meant to learn is the 'Toccata de la Liberation' by Leonce de Saint Martin - a slightly naff piece by someone who never wrote anything else worth the name, which audiences like, and which has been recorded by Dame Gillian and Jane Parker - Smith. Does anyone play this one ? Is it worth the effort ?

M

[Malcolm Kemp]

There is a You-Tube site (which I orginially accessed from a link somewhere on this Board) of someone called Jonathan Hope playing it at Blackburn. A good piece very much in the typical french toccata style; it is on my list of items to include in my next order to Musicroom.

Malcolm Kemp

[Jim Treloar]

MAB - Leonce de St Martin never wrote anything else worth the name????? Can't agree with that I'm afraid...I recommend you get the CD on the fy solstice label played by Cochereau and sung by the choir. IMHO the mass is spectacular; I heard it live once - fabulous. I appeal - give him another chance. The Toccata's listenable too as well, DGW and JPS can't be wrong.

[MAB]

I stand corrected ! I am only too pleased for the guidance, Jim.

M

[Jim Treloar]

MAB - all a matter of opinion, I suppose, I liked it anyway.

Regards.

[Paul Carr]

... It has been fashionable for the past few years, and I played it a lot around 10 years ago, including at a couple of friends weddings, ...

We had it at ours - and it's our tenth anniversary at the end of the month.

...I first heard it on a recording from Blackburn Cathedral ; the ending was just glorious on that organ. ...

Priory issued a CD of the best of the first 30 (I think) releases of 'Great European Organs' it was on that from the Blackburn recording, that's how I came to know it.

I think it is one of the great examples of the French Toccata.

P

[Roffensis]

Ah, yes, the lanky twit toccata. I'd never come across this until I heard DGW's recording at the RAH. I was very struck with it. Since then I've heard it two or three times and been progressively more disappointed. So my current thinking is that it doesn't wear well. But then I'm an old grump. If I was younger I'd almost certainly learn it.

Yes I agree, it doesn't really "go" anywhere either in my opinion. I started to learn it, got to page 9 and got bored. I just didn't think it was worth so much effort. Another recording version to DGWs is David Patrick's at Blackburn Cathedral in the 80s when it was still the original instrument and very fine it was too. Still another recording I know is Morriset Balier's at St Ouen, Rouen, which is good, very laid back and not at all showy. I am always particularly amused by the "see you next week" chords near the end. It's like something out of neighbours.

R

[acc]

MAB - Leonce de St Martin never wrote anything else worth the name????? Can't agree with that I'm afraid...

Neither can I. There is the Paraphrase on Psalm 136, for example, which I enjoy very much, and which has been recorded at least three times, including Cochereau at Notre-Dame (the recording Jim already mentioned), and this chap at St-Eustache, Paris.

[Charles Wooler]

Yes I agree, it doesn't really "go" anywhere either in my opinion. I started to learn it, got to page 9 and got bored. I just didn't think it was worth so much effort. Another recording version to DGWs is David Patrick's at Blackburn Cathedral in the 80s when it was still the original instrument and very fine it was too. Still another recording I know is Morriset Balier's at St Ouen, Rouen, which is good, very laid back and not at all showy. I am always particularly amused by the "see you next week" chords near the end. It's like something out of neighbours.

R

My favourite recording of Lanquetuit (IMHO superior to DGW at RAH) is by Jane Parker-Smith on the new Goll organ at Memingham. It can be found here http://www.avierecords.com/Catalogue/Avie_catalogue2.htm. There is also a superb Whitlock Fantasie Chorale No. 1 which sounds far more "English" that I anticipated. A truely wonderful disc.

Charles