À la venue de Noël Improvisations à l'orgue | Organ Improvisations for Christmas DOM RICHARD GAGNÉ GRAND ORGUE DE SAINT BENOÎT-DU-LAC ABBEY ACD2 2264 2 CD Set Dom Richard Gagné was born in 1954 in L'lslet-sur-Mer, Quebec.   He studied music at the Quebec City Music Conservatory from 1969 to 1976, receiving First Prizes in organ, harmony, music history, and musicology.   He returned to the same institution from 1987 to 1990 in order to complete his tuition in music theory, composition, and musical analysis, and was awarded Prizes in counterpoint and in fugue.   He studied with the likes of Claude Lavoie, Noella Genest, Pierick Houdy, Irene Brisson, and Pierre Genest. He entered the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac in 1976 and was ordained a priest there in 1984.   While pursuing his monastic and theological training, he perfected himself on the organ with Dom Andre Laberge, and received the greater part of his training in improvisation with Raymond Daveluy. Dom Gagné has frequently been heard in concert throughout Quebec.   Furthermore, Radio-Canada has broadcast many of his improvisations.   In 1991 and 1994, he was invited to teach improvisation at the Musique Sacree d'Epinal workshop in France. Finally, Dom Richard Gagné succeeded Dom Jean Claire as choirmaster at the Solesmes Abbey, a post he held from 1996 to 2003, while concurrently holding the post of organist there as of 1998. Improvisations à l'orgue de l'Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Improvisations on tbe Organ of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Abbey CD 1.   1. C'est le jour de la Noël     PASTORALE     2:39   2. Greensleeves     CHANSON     2:33   3. Les anges dans nos campagnes     BASSE ET DESSUS DE TROMPETTE     2:52   4. Cher enfant qui vient de naître     AIR     4:39   5. Ça bergers rassemblons-nous     TOCCATA     5:22   6. Bel astre que j'adore     MÉDITATION     4:09   7. Entre le bœuf et l'âne     ROMANCE     6:27   8. Dans cette étable     PRÉLUDE ET FUGUE     7:00   9. Comme la fleur     RÉCIT DE TIERCE EN TAILLE     4:25 10. Good King Wenceslas     CANZONA     3:46 11. À la venue de Noël     INTERMÈDE     1:47 12. O du fröliche Weihnachtzgeit     CHORAL-VARIATIONS     10:23 CD 2.   1. Qu'Adam fut un pauvre homme     CANTILÈNE     4:11   2. Où courrez-vous comme ça, les gars ?     DIALOGUE SUR LES GRANDS JEUX     2:38   3. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen     RÊVERIE     3:43   4. Il est né le divin enfant     MUZETTE     3:17   5. À la venue de Noël     CHORAL ORNÉ À LA TROMPETTE     5:15   6. Adeste fideles     INTRODUCTION ET CHORAL     5:36   7. Noël nouvelet     INTERLUDE     3:13   8. Dors ma colombe     ADAGIO     3:46   9. Je me suis levé     PRÉLUDE     2:32 10. Puer natus in Bethlehem     PRÉLUDE ET FUGUE     7:20 11. Nouvelle agréable     ANDANTE     4:16 12. Une vierge pucelle     TRIO     2:30 13. Ah ! quel grand mystère !     CHORAL     1:24 14. Pour ne pas languir en chemin     RONDO     4:17 15. Prélude en do         1:49 ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879