Nicolas de Grigny(1672-1703)
        First Organ Book

Organ Mass
Five Hymns

Astree 7725(2 Discs)
Michel Chapuis, Organ
Recorded 1976
TT 101:15

ATMA ACD 22169/70(2 Discs)
John Grew, Organ
Recorded 1997(Mass), 1998(Hymns)
TT 111:29

Don's Conclusion: Very impressive music and performances

Nicolas de Grigny is one of many French Baroque composers who is
generally known only to specialists in the field, his early death certainly
contributing to his obscure reputation.  Little is known about him.  Born
in Rheims, he came from a family of organists.  Although he spent some time
as a young adult in Paris, he resided in provincial areas most of his life.
de Grigny's First Organ Book initially appeared in 1699, and Bach was
sufficiently impressed to copy the entire work; the copy is currently in
the library of Frankfurt University.  One common bond the two composers
have is their love of contrapuntal writing.  de Grigny was especially fond
of five-voice counterpoint.

The main news is that de Grigny's music is delectable and inspiring.  In
addition to a host of gorgeous melodies and passages, he is quite diverse
in his mood painting and musical themes.  The result is that boredom never
creeps in and interest is highly maintained.  There are forty-three
separate 'movements', and each one is a distinctive treat.

The two sets reviewed are also quite different as to performance style
and sound.  John Grew's recording has a deep and compact sound which is
very attractive and intimate.  For Michel Chapuis, the sound is bright,
more expansive, and ideal for a public forum.

Chapuis is consistently quicker than Grew and employs more bounce in his
rhythms and diversity of registrations.  However, Grew is no slouch and
his intimate readings are lovely and poignant.

I haven't noticed that the Chapuis disc is still in print, but I do urge
you to try to find it on the used market or on a website such as Berkshire.
The Atma set is readily available for your pleasure.  If you identify at
all with my Baroque organ preferences, consider both Grigny sets essential
to your library.  The music is a feast for the senses.  On my trip last
week, I took twenty-four organ discs and always kept going back to these
two de Grigny sets.  I was preferring de Grigny, at least on those days,
over Pachelbel, Chaumont, Louis Couperin, Weckmann, Scheidemann, and
Buxtehude.  That's great company to be among, and I feel that Grigny
deserves the status.

Don Satz
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