Thierry Escaich - Cinq versets sur Victimae Paschali - Ben Bloor

Cinq versets sur Victimae Paschali by Thierry Escaich performed by Ben Bloor in a live concert on the 45 stop 1954 Downes/Walker organ of the London Oratory Church on Monday 9th October 2023.
Thierry Escaich studied organ, composition and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire and succeeded Maurice Duruflé as organist at St Étienne-du-Mont, where he has played for the last 27 years. His ‘Cinq versets sur le ‘Victimae Paschali laudes’ were commissioned by the French Minister for Culture in 1991. Over the course of the five short variations, which quote the famous plainsong Easter hymn, various techniques are employed, from fugal writing, to slow processional build-ups, and eventually a breathless toccata, all with intensely rhythmic drive and on the very edge of chromatic decency…
Ben Bloor is Organist at the London Oratory Church and School Organist at Westminster School. For more information, please visit www.benbloor.com
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[@ChannelRalph]

My goodness, Ben. I always enjoy your videos and I hardly ever comment...
But I simply HAD to commend you on your truly phenomenal playing here.
Watched 3 times in a row, "Liked" and will be sharing.
Just WOW, mate! 🎶❤️🎶🖖

[@bloorganist]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. This kind of music can be a bit of an uphill struggle to learn, but it's so worth it in the end - so I appreciate your comment!

[@grahamtwist]

An absolutely stunning performance, Ben - well and truly on the right side of decency! This 1991 commissioned work from Thierry Escaich is awesome in its striking dissonances (only just on that edge of chromatic decency!) and driving rhythms that create a dazzling tone poem of the medieval text that requires supreme virtuosity from the organist in order to deliver the composer's vision. And boy, along with the Downes/Walker Organ, do you deliver, Ben!