One of my sweetest memories as a young person was hearing the church organist at the church my dad worked at playing Guilmant's March on Handel's Lift Up Ye Heads, Ye Mighty Gates at the end of a service. As is customary with all postludes, the congregation got up and walked out at the beginning of the work. Half-way through the fugue, however, people started working their way back in and by the time the grand climax occurred, the space was full. The organist played with zeal and passion, and when Jim finished the place erupted. I have played the March, but not up to that potential. It has been something I have dreamed of happening. This brings us to the Paraphrase sur un choer de Judas Maccabaeus. It is a similar composition to the March on Lift up Ye Heads and could potentially have the same response. With a combination of Guilmant and Handel, I don't think you can go wrong. The main tune is presented at the beginning, alternating back and forth between the swell manual with reeds and the positive with more flutes. Once this is concluded, the main theme begins as a four part fugue. The theme is taken through a variety of keys (my favorite being the presentation in the overly dramatic e minor). When the subdominant key arrives, Guilmant combines the opening of the first phrase of the fugue with the third phrase of the original tune. It is a striking moment as the theme is heard first before the right hand begins the second idea. These two ideas continue to alternate through three more climactic moments bringing the piece to its conclusion. This is only a practice run-through to try to get it up to speed and the mistakes are fairly noticeable. Also, I will be adding more registration in the final product--just not today.
April 13, 2021--Practicing Paraphrase sur un choer de Judas Maccabaeus by Alexandre Guilmant
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