The French Ballet meets the French Cathedral - The Organ music of Lefébure Wély

The organ music of Alfred Lefébure-Wély (1817-1869) represents an era in the French culture prior to the ascension of the works of César Franck and the other composers of the Symphonic organ style. Lefébure-Wély wrote music that could be considered "easy listening" for the Liturgical worship services in France. This piece, a Verset, could easily be identified as music to accompany a ballet dance solo. This selection was from "The Modern Organist" published 1857.
From the Wiki article:
David Sanger writes, "His organ pieces, many of which have recently become available in modern editions, include pastorales, versets, élevations and communions, which were sentimental, lyrical works, and offertories, marches and sorties, which were louder and more akin to the operetta choruses then in vogue."
The French government website says of Lefébure-Wely's music, "His admirers called on him many times to adopt the 'religious style' …. However, he had his habits and his preferences, and, above all his 'clientele'. Also, even though his contemporaries were unanimous in their admiration for his improvisations, he often seems to have taken the easier alternative, the immediately accessible option, music that doesn't ask any questions"
As with many French composers Lefébure-Wély fell under the spell of the magic sound of the new organs built by Aristide Cavaille-Coll.
The Hauptwerk pipe organ sample set is the 1885 Cavaille-Coll found in St.Etienne, Caen France. It is sampled by Sonus Paradisi.
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