"FØDSELSDAGSHILSEN"
Louis VIERNE. October 8th 1870 - June 2nd 1937
French organist, composer and teacher
PRÉLUDE (in F-sharp minor) recorded live in 2008
This four-page work was first published in the seventh of l'Abbé Joseph Joubert's eigth-volume series, Les Maîtres Contemporains de l'Orgue. Vierne dedicated two pieces to Albert Périlhou (1846-1936): this and "Complainte" (Op. 31,3 in D flat major) from the first volume of the 24 Pièces en style libre. In 1914, when both were published, Périlhou had been organist of Saint-Séverin for twenty-three years and director of the École Niedermeyer for four. He was a close friend of Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Gigout and Messager, had known Vierne since 1892 when Vierne acted as his suppléant. In 1900 Périlhou was a member of the jury that elected Vierne organist of Notre-Dame.
Vierne writes: "In October, 1892, I met Albert Périlhou, organist of Saint-Séverin, . . . He came to the Conservatoire one day to ask Widor for a student who could substitute for him. Widor designated me, but on the condition that it be only when I was not needed at Saint-Sulpice. . . The organ of Saint-Séverin was a charming instrument of forty-four stops and I was able to experience some very curious sounds, encouraged by the organist who had the highest taste in those matters. We became excellent friends and he introduced me to his maître, Saint-Saëns, who returned to Paris every spring and loved to play his student's organ."
Many autumn-greetings
Peter Jørgensen