Widor

Question 1

Where and when was Widor born?

Answer 1

21 February 1844 in Lyon, France.

Question 2

Where and when did Widor die?

Answer 2

12 March 1937 in Paris, France.

Question 3

What did Charles-Marie Widor’s father do?

Answer 3

François-Charles Widor was also an organist at Saint François-de-Sales in Lyon. Ch-Marie succeeded him in 1863 at Saint-François-de-Sales after he returned from studies with Lemmens. (Some sources say 1860.)

Question 4

Who was Widor’s teacher?

Answer 4

He went to study with Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens at the Brussels Conservatory in Belgium between 1862 - 63.

Question 5

In 1870, he received a provisional one-year appointment to Saint-Sulpice upon the death of Lefébre-Wély. He remained the acting organist for 64 years, until 30 December 1933. He was succeeded by his former student Marcel Dupré.

Answer 5

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 6

In August 1876, he traveled to Bayreuth to attend the premier of Wagner’s trilogy, “Der Ring des Niebelungen”

Answer 6

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 7

He was appointed professor of organ in 1890 at the Paris Conservatory, succeeding César Franck.

Answer 7

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 8

In 1896, he was appointed Professor of Composition at the Paris Conservatory following Dubois. Ended his teaching activities 1 October 1927, after 37 years.

Answer 8

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 9

His mother Françoise Elisabeth Peiron (known as “Fanny”) was distantly related to the Montgolfer family.

Answer 9

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 10

His grandfather, Jean Widor (1775-1854) was of Hungarian descent and was an organbuilder who worked for the Alsace firm Callinet.

Answer 10

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 11

In 1910 was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris and became its permanent secretary in 1914.

Answer 11

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 12

He was active as a music critic; under the pseudonyms “Aulètes” and “Tibicien” he wrote wide-ranging articles for the Piano-Soleil, l’Estafette and Le Correspondent.

Answer 12

Charles-Marie Widor

Question 13

Organ Symphonie No. 1 in C Minor, Opus 13, No. 1

Answer 13

Published in 1872
I. Prélude
II. [Allegretto]
III. Intermezzo
IV. Adagio
V. Marche Pontificale
VI. Méditation
VII. Finale (Double fugue)

(Movements VI and VII added in 1887 edition.)

Question 14

Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 13, No. 2

Answer 14

Published in 1872
I. Praeludium Circulaire
II. Pastorale
III. [Andante]
IV. Salve Regina (replaced a Scherzo in the 1901 edition)
V. Adagio
VI. Finale

Question 15

Symphony No. 3 in E-minor, Opus 13, No. 3

Answer 15

Published 1872
I. Prélude
II.Minuetto
III. Marcia
IV. Adagio
V. Final (originally a fugue - replaced in the 1887 edition)

Question 16

Symphony No. 4, Opus 13, No. 4 in F Minor

Answer 16

Published 1872
I. Toccata
II. Fugue
III. Andante Cantabile
IV. Scherzo*
V. Adagio
VI. Finale

*only movement entitled “Scherzo” in the final edition of the symphonies

Movements III and IV added in 1887.

Question 17

Symphony No. 5, Opus 42, No. 1 in F Minor

Answer 17

Published in 1887 [first edition 1879)
I. [Allegro vivace] (free theme and variations)
II. [Allegro cantabile]
III. [Andante quasi allegretto] (Scherzo)
IV. [Adagio]
V. Toccata

Question 18

Symphony No. 6 in G minor, Opus 42, No. 2

Answer 18

Composed before the 5th Symphony. Premiered in 1878 in the inaugural series of concerts for the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the Trocadéro under the name 5me-Symphonie. First publication in 1879.
I. [Allegro]
II. [Adagio]
III. Intermezzo
IV. [Cantabile]
V. Finale

Question 19

Symphony No. 7 in A minor, Opus 42, no. 3

Answer 19

First published with Symphony No. 8 in 1887. Movements related motivically.

I. [Moderato]
II. Choral
III. [Andante]
IV. [Allegro ma non troppo]
V. [Lento]
VI. Finale

Question 20

Symphony No. 8, Opus 42, No. 4

Answer 20

Published in 1887
[I.] [Allegro risoluto]
II. [Moderato cantabile]
III. [Allegro]
IV. Variations (a passacaglia, theme presented in the pedal, followed by 11 variations) [Preceded by a Prelude in the 1887 edition]
V. Adagio
VI. Finale

Question 21

Symphonie Gothique in C Minor, Opus 70

Answer 21

Published in 1895
Written for the gothic church at St. Ouen, Rouen
I. [Moderato]
II. [Andante Sostenuto]
III. [Allegro] (in measure 69, the theme of “Puer Natus” is introduced in the symphony for the first time)
IV. [Moderato] (Theme and 6 variations, using “Puer Natus”

Question 22

Symphonie Romaine in D Major, opus 73

Answer 22

Published in 1900
·Written for the Romanesque Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse.
·Based on the Easter Hymn “Haec Dies”

I. [Moderato]
II. Choral
III. Cantilène (does not use “Haec Dies”, but Victimae Paschali Laudes
IV. Final

Only Widor symphony where an autographed manuscript, though incomplete, surfaced (completed 20 July 1899)

Question 23

Bach’s Momento

Answer 23

Published 1925
I. Pastorale Allegretto (transcription of BWV 590, 3rd movement)

II. Miserere Mei Domine - Lento (transcription of Prelude in D minor, BWV 851 - WTC II)

III. Aria - Adagio (transcription of Prelude in E minor, BWV 855 - WTC I)

IV. Marche du Veilleur de Nuit - Moderato, “March of the Night Watchmen” [Transcription - free paraphrase of “Wachet Auf”, BWV 140, mvt. 4]

V. Sicilienne - Andantino [transcription of 2nd movement, Siciliano in G minor, of Sonata for Flute and Cembalo in E-flat Major, BWV 1031]

VI. Mattheus - Final (Andante) [transcription of final chorus of the Bach St. Matthew Passion]