05/13/2026
People have asked me about the organ preludes and improvisations I have played for the past year or so during Mass. The organ preludes are part of the L'Orgue Mystique (The Mystic Organ) by French organist Charles Tournemire. Tournemire set 51 offices, one for each Sunday, based on the proper Gregorian chants of the traditional Latin rite to improvisation. Each office consists of a prelude (based on the entrance antiphon), the offertory (in the Latin rite, a more expansive gathering and prayer before consecration) the communion (the first part of the consecration litany, the post communion (the actual communion antiphon, and the postlude, usually from the responsorial psalm or alleluia. In each office, you will hear slight motifs from each chant within Tournemire's improvisation. I studied the French organ tradition from Dr. Ann Labounsky, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, who studied in Paris with renowned French organist Jean Langlais. This tradition was begun at the Basilica of St. Clotilde by Cesar Franck (who helped restore the French Catholic faith immediately following the French Revolution), Charles Tournemire, Andre Marschal, and Jean Langlais. Each of these men were devout Roman Catholics. L'Orgue Mystique was specifically written for use in the liturgical Catholic liturgy, of which I have presented certain sections. This Sunday is the Feast of the Ascension. You will hear the prelude and the communion improvisations.
