Suite Gothique

Suite gothique
Suite by Léon Boëllmann
Ghys organ at Notre-Dame in Dijon
Occasion	consecration of the Ghys organ
Composed	1895 (1895)
Movements	4
Scoring	organ

Suite gothique, Op. 25 is a suite for organ composed by Léon Boëllmann in 1895 for the consecration of the Ghys organ at Notre-Dame in Dijon.

The suite consists of four movements:

1. Introduction – Choral (C minor)
2. Menuet gothique (C major)
3. Prière à Notre-Dame (A♭major)
4. Toccata (C minor)

The first movement (Introduction - Choral) is in C minor and is made up of harmonized choral phrases that are first played in block chords on the great and pedals, and then repeated, piano, on the Swell. The second movement (Menuet gothique) is in 3/4 time and in C major. The third movement (Prière à Notre-Dame) is in A♭ major; it rarely uses dynamics above 'piano'. The final fourth movement (Toccata) is the best-known of the suite. This movement returns to C minor, ending with a Tierce de Picardie on full organ.

The suite was transcribed for brass band by Eric Ball, and is frequently used as a concert finale by bands such as Fodens, Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick, as well as a test piece in contesting.

In popular culture

The Smurfs, a 1981 television series with widespread usage of classical pieces, used the suite.

External links

• Suite Gothique, Op.25 (Boëllmann, Léon): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Scores on Werner Icking Music Archive