Pierre Cochereau

Pierre Eugène Charles Cochereau (born July 9, 1924 in Saint-Mandé , † March 6, 1984 in Lyon ) was a French composer , organist and music teacher .

Life

In 1929, after a few months of violin lessons, Pierre Cochereau began taking piano lessons from Marius-François Gaillard. In 1933 Marguerite Long became his piano teacher, in 1936 Paul Pannesay. He took his first organ lessons in 1938, at the age of 14, with Marie-Louise Girod. In 1941 he continued his organ studies with Paul Delafosse, titular organist at St. Roch in Paris, whose successor he became the following year. Finally André Fleury became Cochereau's organ teacher until he entered the Paris Conservatory .

At the request of his father, Cochereau began studying law in Paris in 1942, which he broke off after a year in favor of a musical career. In 1943, Pierre Cochereau entered the Paris Conservatory, where he received awards in harmony (class Maurice Duruflé ), music history (class Norbert Dufourcq ), fugue and counterpoint (class Noël Gallon ), composition (class Tony Aubin ) and organ until graduating in 1949 ( Marcel Dupré class ).

In September 1948 Cochereau made his first concert tour to Hungary . A year later he married the pianist and composer Nicole Lacroix. The marriage resulted in two children: the conductor Jean-Marc Cochereau (1949–2011) and the harpist Marie-Pierre Cochereau.

In 1949, at the age of 26, Pierre Cochereau was appointed director of the Le Mans Conservatory, where he worked until 1956. In 1955 he was appointed titular organist at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral , where he succeeded Léonce de Saint-Martin (1886-1954).

In 1956 his recording of the Symphony Passion op. 23 by Marcel Dupré was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque . In the same year Cochereau undertook the first of 25 tours through the USA .

In 1961 Cochereau was appointed director of the Conservatory in Nice , whose direction he left in 1979 in favor of the directorate of the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Musique in Lyon .

On March 6, 1984, Pierre Cochereau died unexpectedly as a result of a brain aneurysm in Lyon. His grave is on the Cimetière de Belleville in Paris .

Pierre Cochereau was one of the most important organists and improvisers of the 20th century. His concert tours have taken him to all continents. He has been a sought-after guest at countless music festivals and a competition jury member, such as the renowned Grand Prix de Chartres organ competition . He also made numerous recordings, including the organ symphonies by Louis Vierne .

Pierre Cochereau owes his international recognition not least to his improvisational skills, about which his former teacher Marcel Dupré said: "Pierre Cochereau is an unparalleled phenomenon in the history of the contemporary organ." In addition, Cochereau left behind several compositions, mainly for organ, but also Chamber music and choral works. Numerous organ improvisations by Pierre Cochereau were recorded and published in print.

Compositions

Organ solo

• Symphony (composed 1950–1955. Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1996. EC 100)
  • 1. Adagio et Allegro
  • 2. Adagio
  • 3. Scherzando
  • 4. Allegro
• Trois Variations sur un thème chromatique (composed 1963. Paris: Leduc, 1963)
• Micro-Sonate en Trio opus 11 (composed 1969. Paris: Leduc, 1969)
• Variations on "Ma jeunesse a une fin" opus 16 (composed 1972. Paris: Leduc, 1972)

Organ with other instruments

• Concerto for organ and orchestra in C sharp major (composed 1951. Unpublished.)

Choral works

• Paraphrase de la Dédicace for choir, two organs, two wind ensembles and six timpani (composed 1963. Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 148)
• Anthem (unpublished)

Chamber music

• Songs (unpublished)
• Piano Quintet (unpublished)

Transcriptions of improvisations by Pierre Cochereau

• Symphony improvisée.
• I. Adagio
• II. Scherzo
• III. adagio
• IV. Toccata
  • Improvised on the Aeolian Skinner Organ at Boston Symphony Hall in June 1956 . Transcribed by Jeremy Filsell.
    • Éditions Chantraine / Music Publishing Dr. J. Butz, 2004. EC 160.
      • Recording: Cochereau: Les "Incunables". Sigean: Solstice, 2000. SOCD 177/8. 2 CDs.

• Scherzo sur deux Noëls.
  • Improvised in December 1959 in Notre-Dame de Paris for Guilde Internationale du Disque. Transcribed by Anthony Hammond.
    • Music publisher Dr. J. Butz, 2012. EC 163.

• Symphony en improvisation.
• I. Agité
• II. Scherzo
• III. Lent
• IV. Final
  • Improvised for Philips in December 1963 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by John Scott Whiteley.
    • Éditions Chantraine / Music Publishing Dr. J. Butz, 2006. EC 161.
      • Recording: Cochereau: La Légende. Sigean: Solstice, 2007. SOCD 237. Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 4: Messiaen / Cochereau. France: Philips, 1995. Philips 446 642-2. 1 CD.

• Treize improvisations on the versets de vêpres.
  • Improvised for Philips in December 1963 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by Jeanne Joulain.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 125.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau improvise sur des Noëls. Sigean: Solstice, 1997. SOCD 152. 1 CD.

• Prelude et Variations on "Venez, Divin Messie".
  • Improvised on December 24th, 1968 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by David Briggs .
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1998. EC 122.
      • Recording: Cochereau: La Légende. Sigean: Solstice, 2007. SOCD 237.

• Sortie sur "Adeste Fideles".
  • Improvised on December 24th, 1968 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 150.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau improvise sur des Noëls. Sigean: Solstice, 1997. SOCD 152. 1 CD.

• Cantem toto la Gloria.
  • Improvised on July 23, 1969 in Collioure (Pyrénées-Orientales; Hartmann-Positiv). Transcribed by David Briggs.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 120.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: 12 improvisations inédites. Sigean: Solstice, 2002. SOCD 200/1. 2 CDs.

• Thème et Variations on "Alouette, gentille alouette".
  • Improvised in April 1970 in Notre-Dame de Paris for Philips. Transcribed by David Briggs.
    • London: United Music Publishers, 1992.
      • Recording: Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 16: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 1. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 655-2. 1 CD.

• 15 verses on "Ave Maris Stella".
  • Improvised on August 15, 1970 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 157.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau improvise en concert à Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1989. FYCD 127. 1 CD.

• Symphony improvisée.
• I. Fanfare
• II. Scherzo
• III. Jig
• IV. Lamento
• V. Toccata
  • Improvised in 1972 at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco for Piano Records. Transcribed by Anthony Hammond.
    • Music publisher Dr. J. Butz, 2009. EC 162.

• Variations sur un vieux Noël.
  • Improvised on December 24, 1972 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by Jeremy Filsell.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 137.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau improvise en concert à Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1989. FYCD 127. 1 CD.

• Introduction, Choral et Variations on " O Filii et filiæ ".
  • Improvised on April 22nd, 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 2000. EC 151.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'organiste de Notre-Dame. Sigean: Solstice, 1992. SOCD 94/6. 3 CDs.

• Boléro sur un thème de Charles Racquet for organ and percussion.
  • Improvised for Philips in May 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by Jean-Marc Cochereau.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1996. EC 116.
      • Recordings: Cochereau: La Légende. Sigean: Solstice, 2007. SOCD 237. Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 16: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 1. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 655-2. 1 CD.

• Berceuse à la mémoire de Louis Vierne.
  • Improvised for Philips in May 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by Frédéric Blanc .
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 119.
      • Recording: Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 17: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 2. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 656-2. 1 CD.

• Variations on "Brother Jacques".
  • Improvised for Philips in May 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 149.
      • Recording: Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 17: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 2. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 656-2. 1 CD.

• Suite à la française sur des thèmes popular.
• I. Prélude "Légende de Saint-Nicolas"
• II. Air "Trimazo"
• III. Gigue "Compagnons de la Marjolaine"
• IV. Musette "Nous n'irons plus au bois"
• V. Sarabande "Dans les prisons de Nantes"
• VI. Menuet "V'la l'bon vent"
• VII. Toccata "Marche des rois"
  • Improvised for Philips in May 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 115.
      • Recording: Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 16: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 1. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 655-2. 1 CD.

• Scherzo symphonique.
  • Improvised on February 10, 1974 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by Jeremy Filsell.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1998. EC 139.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'organiste de Notre-Dame. Sigean: Solstice, 1992. SOCD 94/6. 3 CDs.

• Sortie sur "Venez, Divin Messie".
  • Improvised in March 1974 in Notre-Dame de Paris for FY / Solstice. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1996. EC 113.
      • Recording: Noël à Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1994. SOCD 906. 1 CD.

• Suite de Danses for organ and percussion.
• I. Marche
• II. Sarabande
• III. musette
• IV. Tambourine
• V. Menuet
• VI. Jig
  • Improvised on May 29, 1974 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by David Briggs.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 123.
      • Recording: Cochereau: Deux grandes improvisation en concert. Sigean: Solstice, 1985. FYCD 118. 1 CD.

• Sortie sur "Haec Dies".
  • Improvised on March 30, 1975 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 112.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'organiste de Notre-Dame. Sigean: Solstice, 1992. SOCD 94/6. 3 CDs.

• Neuf Pièces improvisées en forme de Suite française.
• I. Kyrie
• II. Petit Plein-Jeu
• III. Offertoire
• IV. Tierce en taille
• V. Voix humaine
• VI. Basse de Cromorne
• VII. Flûtes
• VIII. Basse de Trompette
• IX. Grand Plein-Jeu
  • Improvised between March 15th and 18th, 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris for FY / Solstice. Transcribed by Jeanne Joulain.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz. EC 64.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'art de l'improvisation. Sigean: Solstice, 1999. FYCD 059. 1 CD.

• Variations sur un Noël.
  • Improvised on June 27, 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris for FY / Solstice. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 90.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'art de l'improvisation. Sigean: Solstice, 1999. FYCD 059. 1 CD.

• Une Fair Dominicale.
• I. Entrée
• II. Offertory
• III. Elevation
• IV. Communion
• V. Sortie
  • Improvised on June 28, 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris for FY / Solstice. Transcribed by François Lombard.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1997. EC 114.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'art de l'improvisation. Sigean: Solstice, 1999. FYCD 059. 1 CD.

• Triptyque symphonique sur deux thèmes.
• I. Introduction and Scherzo
• II. Fugue
• III. Final
  • Improvised on June 29, 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris for FY / Solstice. Transcribed by David Briggs.
    • Tournai: Éditions Chantraine / Musikverlag Dr. J. Butz, 1998. EC 121.
      • Recording: Pierre Cochereau: L'art de l'improvisation. Sigean: Solstice, 1999. FYCD 059. 1 CD.

Discography

• Pierre Cochereau: L'Œuvre écrite.
  • Symphonie pour grand orgue; Paraphrase de la Dédicace; Trois Variations on un thème chromatique; Micro Sonate en trio; Thème et Variations on "Ma jeunesse a une fin".
    • François Lombard (symphony) and Pierre Pincemaille , organ. Regional office Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Orchester philharmonique de Marseille. Jean-Marc Cochereau, conductor. Recorded in 1999 in St. Vincent de Roquevaire (Bouches-du-Rhône). Sigean: Solstice, 1999. SOCD 163. 1 CD.

• Cochereau.
  • A two-hour DVD portrait with numerous archive recordings and interviews on the life of Pierre Cochereau.
    • Sigean: Solstice, 2004. SODVD 01. 1 DVD.

• Cochereau: Les "Incunables".
  • Liszt: Ad nos, ad salutarem undam; Vierne: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 20; Dupré: Symphony Passion op.20; Cochereau: Symphony improvisée.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in 1955 in Notre-Dame de Paris (Liszt, Vierne, Dupré) and in June 1956 (Symphonie improvisée) in Symphony Hall, Boston. Sigean: Solstice, 2000. SOCD 177/8. 2 CDs.

• Cochereau: La Legende.
  • Symphony and improvisation; Treize improvisations sur des versets de Vêpres; Boléro improvisé sur un thème de Charles Racquet for organ and percussion.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Michel Cals and Michel Gastaud, drums (Boléro improvisé). Recorded in December 1963 (Symphonie, Treize improvisations) and May 1973 (Boléro improvisé) in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 2007. SOCD 237. 1 CD.

• Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 4: Messiaen / Cochereau.
  • Olivier Messiaen: excerpts from La Nativité du Seigneur ; Le banquet celeste; Apparition de l'eglise éternelle (February 1972); Symphonie en improvisation (May 1973).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in Notre-Dame de Paris. France: Philips, 1995. Philips 446 642-2. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau improvise sur des Noëls aux grandes orgues de Notre-Dame de Paris.
  • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between 1969 and 1973 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1997. SOCD 152. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau: 12 improvisations inédites.
  • Summer tour 1969 on a two-manual positive by Philippe Hartmann in various French cities.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between July 16 and August 29, 1969. Sigean: Solstice, 2002. SOCD 200/1. 2 CDs.

• Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 16: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 1.
  • Improvisations on “Alouette, gentile alouette” (April 1970); Suite à la française sur des thèmes popular; Boléro sur un theme de Charles Racquet, pour orgue et percussion (May 1973).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Michel Cals and Michel Gastaud, drums (Boléro). Recorded in Notre-Dame de Paris. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 655-2. 1 CD.

• Collection Grandes Orgues Vol. 17: Cochereau joue Cochereau, Improvisations 2.
  • Treize improvisations sur des versets de Vêpres (December 1963); Berceuse à la mémoire de Louis Vierne; Variations sur Brother Jacques (May 1973).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in Notre-Dame de Paris. France: Philips, 1996. Philips 454 656-2. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau: Deux grandes improvisations en concert.
  • Suite de Danses; Prelude, Adagio et Choral Varié.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Michel Cals and Michel Gastaud, percussion (Suite de Danses). Recorded on May 24, 1974 (Suite) and February 27, 1970 (Prelude, Adagio et Choral Varié) in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1985. FYCD 118. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau: L'organiste de Notre-Dame.
  • Works by JS Bach, César Franck, Olivier Messiaen, Marcel Dupré, Rouget de Lisle, as well as numerous live recordings of improvisations from liturgy and concerts.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between 1968 and 1984 in Notre-Dame de Paris and Chartres Cathédrale (Introduction, Choral et Variations sur un thème donné par PC, September 30, 1973). Sigean: Solstice, 1992. SOCD 94/6. 3 CDs.

• Pierre Cochereau, organ.
  • Works by Johann Sebastian Bach, François Couperin; Louis Vierne, Olivier Messiaen and an improvisation on a given topic.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded on July 12, 1970 and July 2, 1972 at the Chiesa Parrocchiale in Magadino, Italy. Bologna: Ermitage, 1996. ERM 176-2. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau improvise en concert à Notre-Dame de Paris.
  • 15 versets on Ave Maris Stella; Variations sur un Noël.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded on August 15, 1970 (Versets) and December 24, 1972 (Variations) in Notre Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1989. FYCD 127. 1 CD.

• Improvisations sur des thèmes de Pâques à Notre-Dame de Paris.
  • Symphony en 4 mouvements (April 11, 1971); Introduction, Choral, Fugue et Variations (March 26, 1978); Prelude, Adagio, Fugue et Choral Varié (April 19, 1981).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 2003. SOCD 206. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau: L'organiste liturgique.
  • 4 improvised masses (each Entrée, Offertoire, Communion and Sortie).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between June 1973 and November 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 2003. SOCD 226. 1 CD.

• Noël à Notre-Dame de Paris.
  • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Maîtrise de Notre-Dame. Jehan Revert, lead. Recorded in March and June 1974 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1994. SOCD 906. 1 CD.

• Louis Vierne: Les six symphonies pour orgue.
  • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in 1975 and 1976 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 2006. SOCD 911-3. 3 CDs

• Les offices du dimanche à Notre-Dame de Paris.
  • Office de Laudes; Grand'Messe; Vêpres.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Maîtrise de Notre-Dame / Chorale de la Cathédrale. Jehan Revert, lead. Taken on February 27, 1976 and November 9, 1968 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1988. FYCD 019. 1 CD.

• Pierre Cochereau: L'art de l'improvisation.
  • 30 pieces for the presentation of the Notre-Dame organization.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between March 15th and June 29th 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1999. FYCD 059. 1 CD.

• Two improvisations en forme de suites.
  • 6 Versets sur des textes bibliques de Noël (1983); 10 Versets sur les quatre antiennes de la Vierge (1977).
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded on August 15, 1977 and December 24, 1983 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 2017. SOCD 349. 1 CD.

• Organ works by Otto Barblan and Henri Gagnebin.
  • Otto Barblan: Toccata op. 23; Fantaisie op. 16; Chaconne op.10 on BACH. Heni Gagnebin: Toccata; Dialogue et Passacaille. Pierre Cochereau in an interview with Gérard Delatena.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded in October 1977 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Wiesbaden: Motet Ursina. Motet M 10350. 1 LP.

• Cochereau: Un Testament Musical.
  • Intégrale des 25 improvisations sur l'Evangile selon Saint Matthieu.
    • Pierre Cochereau, organ. Recorded between February 5th and March 4th 1984 in Notre-Dame de Paris. Sigean: Solstice, 1997. SOCD 150/1. 2 CDs.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Lyon et des communes annexées. Acte de décès no 155 de la page 46/242, cote du registre 2E3655. Click on "Accéder aux registres", then "Personnalités", then the letter "C" and finally select the entry "COCHEREAU Pierre". Accessed January 17, 2018 (French).
2. ↑ Havard de la Montagne, Denis. Obituaire Jean-Marc Cochereau . Musica et Memoria . Accessed January 29, 2018 (French).

literature

• Yvette Carbou: Pierre Cochereau: Témoignages. Bourg-la-Reine: Éditions Zurfluh, 1999, ISBN 2-87750-087-X
• Yvette Carbou: Pierre Cochereau - Un art d'illusionniste. Sampzom: Delatour France, 2014. ISBN 978-2-7521-0124-2
• Norbert Duechtel: In memoriam: Pierre Cochereau . In: Musica sacra . tape 104 , 1984, ISSN  0179-356X , p. 142 .
• Anthony Hammond : Pierre Cochereau. Organist of Notre Dame . University of Rochester Press, 2012, ISBN 978-1-58046-405-5 .
• Brigitte de Leersnyder (Ed.): Pierre Cochereau (1924–1984). L'Orgue: Cahiers et memoirs. Numéro Spéciale de la revue trimestrielle L'Orgue 1989. Association des Amis de l'Orgue, ISSN  0030-5170
• Martin Welzel: organist at Notre-Dame de Paris. A memory of Pierre Cochereau (1924–84) - on his 90th birthday and 30th anniversary of his death. Organ - Journal für die Orgel 17, No. 4 (2014), pp. 42–45.

Web links

• Pierre Cochereau on the website "Musica et Memoria"
• Obituary in the New York Times, March 7, 1984
• Pierre Cochereau at Solstice Music
• Works by Pierre Cochereau in the music publishing house Dr. J. Butz, Bonn
• Literature by and about Pierre Cochereau in the SUDOC catalog (Association of French University Libraries)

predecessor	Office	successor
Léonce de Saint-Martin	Titular organist at Notre Dame de Paris 1954–1984	Olivier Latry Philippe Lefebvre Jean-Pierre Leguay Yves Devernay († 1990)