André Raison
André Raison (
1650 –
1719) was a
French Baroque composer and
organist. Today he is recognized for his significant contributions to the development of French organ music, freeing the latter from the influence of
plainchant.
He was born some time before
1650, probably in Paris. He studied in the Saint-Geneviève abbey in
Nanterre where he later became the titular organist, and also served as organist of the
Jesuit Saint Jacques church in Paris. He enjoyed a high reputation during his lifetime, as he was apparently counted by his contemporaries to be among the best parisian organists of the time. He was also known as an organ teacher,
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault being his most famous pupil. Raison died in
1719 in Paris.
His musical output consists of two
livres d'orgue, collections of
organ pieces published in
1688 and in
1714 in Paris. They include five
masses in different
Church Modes, some
Noels (settings of popular Christmas songs) and other pieces. Raison is one of the most important French organists of his generation, which is chronologically situated between
Nicolas Lebègue and
François Couperin. Raison's style, emphasizes the melodic, rhythmic and sound aspects of music rather than
polyphonic complexity - indeed, he had a reputation of an expert on organ
registrations, and
Premier livre d'orgue is now considered a valuable book on organ registrations used at the time and on questions related to interpretation of French organ music.
Bach was familiar with Raison's music and Bach's
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor,
BWV 582, uses a modified version of a theme from Raison's
Trio en Passacaille from
Premier livre d'orgue.
*
French baroque organistsFree recordings of a few pieces by André Raison:
*from
Offertoire du 5e ton**[
1] Vive le Roy des Parisiens
*from
Messe du 3e ton**[
2] Récit de cornet
**[
3] Basse de trompette
