Though widely known as a skillful improviser and teacher in his day, César Franck has been largely overlooked concerning the pivotal role he played in the revival of French organ music after the bloody and destructive Revolution of 1789. This dissertation presents evidence of Franck's importance as teacher, performer, and composer who served as a crucial bridge between the ruinous state of organ music after the French Revolution and the vibrant French organ school of the twentieth century. Chapter 1 presents the problem and provides background for the study. Chapter 2 presents an overview of the effects of the Revolution on the state, the church, and organ music. Chapter 3 is a description of post-revolutionary political developments, improved organ design and construction, and music education efforts that lead to the beginnings of recovery of French organ music. Chapter 4 is a detailed picture of Franck's educational, performing, and compositional activities. Chapter 5 reveals the significant influence and legacy of Franck as a result of his teaching, performing, and composition. The final chapter is a conclusion of the findings.

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The name Lemmens did not only have significance for his students, but also for several critics. Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens (1823-1881) had an enormous impact on the art of the organ music in France in the nineteenth century. The American public knew him as a result of his three Organ sonatas. The works of Bach and other composers like Mendelssohn mainly influenced his performance. Lemmens was seen as a French organist and in the nineteenth century it was not common for a French organist to include works of German composers in concerts due to the mainstream of playing, which was improvisation. He also taught his students on the model of Bach. Hesse introduced Lemmens to the German organ style. One of his students, Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911), carried on with this tradition. He went on to become one of the great organ-composers of the nineteenth century and was also one of the first to compose a sonata. Guilmant often included the works of German composers in his recitals and had insight into the works of Mendelssohn on his many visits to England. Although both these composers were French, they came under the influence of the German organ tradition. The formal structures, counterpoint and fugues included in their sonatas, are a direct reference to the Trio sonatas of JS. Bach and the organ sonatas of Mendelssohn. In this study, a short introduction to the organ tradition in nineteenth-century France will be given as well as some information about Lemmens and Guilmant. The influence of the German organ tradition on the Three Sonatas of Lemmens and the Eight Sonatas of Guitmant will be shown and it will be proven that indeed the German masters had an influence on the French organ music of the nineteenth century. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The name Lemmens did not only have significance for his students, but also for several critics. Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens (1823-1881) had an enormous impact on the art of the organ music in France in the nineteenth century. The American public knew him as a result of his three Organ sonatas. The works of Bach and other composers like Mendelssohn mainly influenced his performance. Lemmens was seen as a French organist and in the nineteenth century it was not common for a French organist to include works of German composers in concerts due to the mainstream of playing, which was improvisation. He also taught his students on the model of Bach. Hesse introduced Lemmens to the German organ style. One of his students, Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911), carried on with this tradition. He went on to become one of the great organ-composers of the nineteenth century and was also one of the first to compose a sonata. Guilmant often included the works of German composers in his recitals and had insight into the works of Mendelssohn on his many visits to England. Although both these composers were French, they came under the influence of the German organ tradition. The formal structures, counterpoint and fugues included in their sonatas, are a direct reference to the Trio sonatas of JS. Bach and the organ sonatas of Mendelssohn. In this study, a short introduction to the organ tradition in nineteenth-century France will be given as well as some information about Lemmens and Guilmant. The influence of the German organ tradition on the Three Sonatas of Lemmens and the Eight Sonatas of Guitmant will be shown and it will be proven that indeed the German masters had an influence on the French organ music of the nineteenth century. / Thesis (M.Mus.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

In 1988, Jean Guillou composed Hyperion on a commission from the French oil company, Société Nationale Elf Aquitaine, to celebrate its discovery of oil. He developed this theme of fire using his imagination, European philosophical concepts, and various myths. As with Messiaen, rhythm becomes a significant element in Guillou's organ music to convey a heightened dramatic story of an exaltation of fire and to represent the fourth movement of "Agni-Ignis." For aspects of rhythmic structure, I developed new methodology to analyze rhythm in six sections of "Agni-Ignis." Guillou uses experimental rhythmic techniques such as rhythmic subdivision, cycling, rhythmic ostinato, durational contrast, and rhythmic crescendo to build the musical structure of the piece. Among them, the primary subdivision of 16th-note groups organizes throughout the piece as a cyclic theme to convey the powerful and vivid mood of fire. This rhythmic group creates many pitch patterns as thematic transformation to provide both rhythmic and harmonic complexities. The two types of rhythmic ostinato, which is variable and invariable type, juxtapose below the manual's skillful rhythm to provide variety and unity. The other notable features of rhythm appear at the border of each section, such as rhythmic crescendo, durational contrast, 32nd-note groupings, rest and fermata to build tension and relaxation. The rhetorical figure of pitch D, which is another "fire theme" in the pitch aspect dominates the core section which has a much slower rhythm with sustained notes. In general, Guillou has been influenced by his predecessors such as his teacher, Messiaen, and Stravinsky. However, he is uniquely suited to explore the limitless possibilities of the organ in a more secular and avant-garde style. The purpose of this study is to give the performer new insight to guide his or her performance.

Five French organ composers, representative of the period from Widor to the present time, are identified in this study, and a comparative analysis of the works of each is made. The introduction includes the source of the data, the scope of the problem, the purpose of the study, the method of procedure, a brief historical background of the new French school of music, general characteristics of modern French music, and specific idioms of contemporary French organ composers, as exemplified in the works of the organists selected: Charles Marie Widor, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, Marcel Dupre, and Joseph Bonnet. The compositions and musical contributions of Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Dupre, and Bonnet, respectively, are discussed in Chapter II through Chapter VI. Chapter VII states a summary of the study and the conclusions drawn,