23/04/2013

Maurice Duruflé - Veni Creator, Prélude (complete), version 19 April 2013

This is the thirteenth blog post to document the preparation of my live performance of Maurice Duruflé's Prélude, Adagio et Choral Varié sur le thème du "Veni Creator" at the Orgelpark in Amsterdam on 23 May, 2012 at 20.15 h
After all the fragments, here is a video with the first complete recording of the Prélude. Some remarks on where the performance can be improved:

0'50'' : the movement of the right foot is superfluous; there is no swell box action yet
1'40'' : the transition to the melody for the hautbois should be more fluent, as in an orchestra (almost impossible to realize on an organ)
2'37'' : the transition between the third manual and the pedal in the main melody is not completely legato
3'23'' : the swell box is already completely closed, so that there is no further diminuendo possible (N.B. the score prescribes a decrescendo for the great manual, but this is not possible)
5'52'' : the main melody's e-flat is a bit too short, as a sign of concentration slipping away
5'58'' : memory slip, resulting in some missing notes
8'44'' : the trumpet's recitativo is too metrical, not enough rubato
9'04'' : the voix céleste should be put in

In general, the performance should be more glowing, which can be realized by letting the bottoms of the keys roll from one to each other, with exactly the right amount of pressure (not too much, as that will lead to stagnation). Consequently, it may sound like an improvisation, i.e. with a spontaneity as if it is played for the first time.