Litanies

[soundboarddude]

Hello all,

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The Wikipedia article on Jehan Alain claims (without citation) that Litanies was originally written as a humorous piece, subtitled with the following text:</p>

Story of a man who is pushing a little three-wheeled cart. Behind him are twenty policemen who are throwing bricks at him</p>

According to the article, shortly after it was composed, Alain's sister died in a mountain climbing accident (which is in fact true), and so he decided to change the name and subtitle to be about how the soul cries out for God (or something similar).</p>

Is there any truth to the Wikipedia article? Does anyone have better evidence, either way?</p>

-sbd</p>

[Guest]

Re: Litanies

I have no evidence whatsoever on either side, but for some reason I find this VERY hard to believe.

[Austin766]

Re: Litanies

While I suppose it is possible that Alain changed the name and subtitle of the work, but I think it is an awfully big change to go from a comic work to a heavy minded work, but again I suppoose it is possible.

[Havoc]

Re: Litanies

IIRC there was a change in naming of the Litanies. I tought the second one had an other title before but I cannot remember more nor find back the papers with that info on it. 

[Guest]

Re: Litanies



nonsense !</P>


Fred</P>

[soundboarddude]

Re: Litanies



Well, I know it sounds dubious, but if it were the case, I don't think I would be surprised. He drew cartoons in the margins of his music, so I think he had a sense of humor.</p>

And while I think the piece fits better with the title of Litanies, I can sense a man being chased when I play it.</p>

Has no one else heard this claim before, or does no one have a facsimile of the original (I can't seem to get my hands on one myself)?
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[Guest]

Re: Litanies



Yes it is very interesting. Thanks.</p>

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PS : I have composed "Lithanie" too.</p>

If you want to hear : http://organ.monespace.net/autres/img166a.mp3</p>

If you want to play : http://organ.monespace.net/autres/img167a.pdf
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[Luttes]

Hi folks,

Have just been doing a search here to find out what information is being passed around about Jehan Alain's centenary this year and found this thread.

One of the earliest pieces to feature fragments of what later turned up in Litanies was Fantasmagorie (the "train wheel" rhythm is heard quite distinctly). It was this piece that was apparently prefaced with the story of the man pushing the cart. Jehan Alain certainly did have a sense of humour, one can see and read it in the random notes and drawings throughout his notebook.
Parts of Fantasmagorie were also re-used for a piece that was going by the working title of Supplications. This later became Litanies, and by then (particularly after the death of Marie-Odile), the comical origins had all but vanished.

By way of a little tribute, I posted this on my YouTube page on February 11th this year for his 100th birthday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1uQvUJXGTA

Kind regards,
MPA