Michel Estellet-Brun -
organ works
Michel Estellet-Brun (born in Bordeaux in 1943) studied the
organ at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, and then undertook
further study with Gaston Litaize and Pierre Cochereau. His
appointments include Beauvais Cathedral, the Abbey of
Royaumont, and the churches of Notre Dame de la Croix, St
Georges and St Joseph des Nations in Paris. His discography
includes a recording of organ music by the Czech Josef Klicka, on
the Alpha label: bringing the work of this unjustly neglected
composer to public attention has been a substantial element in
his career.
His stoplists include the oratorio La Passion à Menilmontant as
well as much solo organ music, some of which is published by
Fagus in Scotland and Delatour. He is currently working on a
series of stoplists inspired by Paul Claudel’s poems on the
Stations of the Cross. Michel is a frequent visitor to England and
has played at Salisbury Cathedral (where he improvised a 44-
minute Symphonic Suite in four movements before an enthralled
audience of young organists), Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s
Cathedral and, most recently, at Westminster Cathedral, where
he played a set of improvisations during a Sunday evening Mass.
He has also played in Germany and the Czech Republic, where
he gave the final concert of the Organ Festival of Eastern Europe
in the Basilica of Olomouc, as well in his native France.
In 2006, Michel was decorated by the Cardinal Archbishop of
Paris, receiving the Gold Medal of St Gregory for his outstanding
services to church music over nearly forty years.In 2015, he
received the decoration "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres".
Michel Estellet-Brun is organiste emérite of St-Joseph-des-
Nations.
ORGAN WORKS
(Description by Michel Estellet-Brun himself)
1. Poème des Rameaux
Rameau’s poem improvisation - this work shows the
incompatibility of the two aspects of Celebration into one,
which in fact should be two distinct Celebrations 1), the
ovation for the incoming Christ into Jerusalem 2) the reading
of the Passion evoking his crucifixion, the promiscuity of
both these aspects always disturbed me.
2. Cantilène
Improvisation - work of tenderness dedicated to my wife
Françoise.
3. Verset
Improvised on this theme as a commentary on a Psalm and
dedicated it to my aunt Denise (now defunct) who loved
Wagner.
4. Communion de l'Assomption
Assumption communion, improvisation - my intimate
prayers cater mostly to the Virgin Mary, work dedicated to
Norma, the mother of my friend David Adkins as a token of
my deep Affection.
5. à Patrick
Improvisation transcribed, created at the request of parents
whose children died by "autolysis", which has been the
subject of one CD containing 9 pieces based on their names
translated by their musical theme, others will be transcribed.
6. Improvisation lors des obsèques I
6. Improvisation lors des obsèques II
6. Improvisation lors des obsèques III
Funeral – three improvisations
1) Marie-Thérèse reparaît
2) Offertoire Resurrexit
3) Au revoir Marie-Thérèse
This person with a cancer, great friend and parishioner of
St.Joseph of Nations, died while me myself, suffering from
the same disease, "escaped", the ceremony took place a
few weeks after my operation, work marked by anxiety,
fear, but also hope and deliverance, as evidenced by the
Offertory Resurrexit.
7. Poème de l'avent
Advent poem, transcribed improvisation - I lost my father
at the age of 12, and all my life I searched for him, with
time his image is sublimated, I talk about peace, a form of
revolt and, of course, the Resurrection.
8. Communion carème
Lent communion, transcribed improvisation - waiting and
silence before the hope of the next resurrection which
Christ has promised us.
9. In memoriam
Improvisation transcribed - in memory of Bernard
Cordaillat, a faithful friend, student and seamless
supporter, who died brutally by an accident.
10. Offertoire Défunts
Offertory of the deceased, transcribed improvisation - in
memory of my mother rising to heaven during the
ceremony of Pathway of the Cross: immense grief, revolt,
but infinite appeasement.
11. Stephane
Improvisation transcribed (as Patrick), in memory of this
child which died much too young!
12. Eclips
'I witnessed the eclipse in 1999 in Paris, at the top of the
Tower St. Jacques, exceptional spectacle, the wind rises,
the temperature drops suddenly, the colors of the sky and
lighting of buildings, the entire environment changes
suddenly through the color night blue, dark red, life in the
streets slowed, human beings froze at the site, a spectacle
of apocalypse! Before diving into a disturbing night, a
huge black circle takes the place of the sun who faints,
anxiety is felt everywhere, and then, a few minutes later, a
trickle of light appears, it is there that one takes
consciousness of our fragility and this "Ariadne's thread"
which allows the miracle of life.
A few days later, a friend with whom I visit the organ of
St.Joseph, placed on the pupitre a panoramic photograph
of the upsetting show of this Eclipse, it was, for me, an
intense emotion, I'm 'gone' on this improvised work and
creates this diptyque that ends with an explosion of life,
as a resurrection.'
Back to Saint Joseph des Nations
Pierre Cochereau and Michel Estellet during a class at
Notre Dame de la Croix de Ménilmontant (around 1975)