Dear Ken List and other Listers:
 
In response to your complaint of my inadequate review of Daveluy's Sonata:
 
For one thing, some Listers think I talk too much, as it is.
 
Second: since I had been on NOMAIL during my week's absence, I thought perhaps
someone else might have reviewed Daveluy's Sonata.  Eventually, it transpired
that nobody had, but I didn't learn that until some time after I had posted my
(already lengthy) review of the Montreal High Mass.
 
Well, I can assure you that M. Daveluy fully fulfilled our expectations.  The
Sonata was stunning.  Although: "improvisation" was perhaps not quite the most
accurate description: it appears to have already been written out, so perhaps
"world premiere" might have been a more apt term to use.
 
Well, I wrote out copious notes during the performance; but (as Malcolm
Wechsler can tell you) I don't have a very good filing system, and now I can't
lay my hands on same.
Briefly, the Sonata was in four movements: Allegro, Adagio, Scherzo, and
Finale.
In Daveluy's unique style --- which, not surprisingly, is very Gallic.  There
was long sustained applause afterwards from the capacity audience --- the
largest I have ever seen at one of these Wednesday evening concerts there in
the Oratory, and a long line of congratulants afterwards in the organ loft.
John Downing up there in Montreal: could you supply more specifics?
 
While in Montreal: I purchased the scores of Daveluy's Second and Third Organ
Sonatas (publisher: Edition Jacques Ostiguy).  I ran into M. Daveluy on the
sidewalk outside the Oratory, and he kindly pointed out to me an error in the
printed score of the Third.
 
John Downing also graciously gave me a copy of the organ works of his uncle
Bernard Piche (accent aigu over the "e"), which had been performed in an
earlier concert in the series by Michelle Quintal of Trois Rivieres, Quebec.
(Some of these are available on a CD she has released.)  This score is now
available in the U.S.  from Lissett Publications,
P.O.Box 904, Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752.  Some of these pieces are
stunning: I DID review these, Ken List, on the List earlier this summer (see
the archives).  Especially the Introduction et Fugue sur l'Ite Missa Est
Alleluiatique, and Hymne de gloire a la bienheureuse Marguerite Bourgeois.
Piche lived from 1908 to 1989; for many years, he was organist of the
Dominican Church in Lewiston, Maine, before returning to Quebec.
 
Have a fulfilled weekend.
 
Arthur LaMirande
 
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Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity at Albany.
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