Léonce de Saint-Martin: Organist and Composer

Abstract

This study examines the life and work of the largely forgotten organist Léonce de Saint-Martin and the role he played in the life of Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris. The Study consists of two parts: A) Performance The performance part consisted of four performances in addition to the final recital. These were related to both the topic and the requirements of the University of Waikato. 1. Liturgical Improvisations on "The Stations of the Cross." 2. Organ Concerto in G minor - Francis Poulenc 3. Requiem – Maurice Duruflé 4. Solo Recital - St. Peter’s Cathedral Hamilton. 5. Final recital - Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland.

B) Thesis The thesis examines the development of the French organ in relation to the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1198 to 1954. In addition, the life and work of the main protagonists Louis Vierne and Marcel Dupré are examined to put the role of Saint-Martin in context. The bulk of the work places the career of Saint-Martin into a fresh context, and examines his compositional and performance output purely on its musical merit, from a position of both chronological and geographical distance.