Jacques-Nicolas (Jaak-Nicolaas) Lemmens (1823 –
1881), was an organist and composer for his instrument.
He was born at Zoerle-Parwijs, near Westerlo, Belgium,
Lemmens took lessons from François-Joseph Fétis, who
wanted to make him into a musician capable of renewing
the organ-player's art in Belgium. Fétis sent him to
Adolf Friedrich Hesse in Germany to learn Johann
Sebastian Bach's tradition.
In 1847, Lemmens won the Paris Conservatoire's
prestigious Prix de Rome with his Le roi L...(+)
Jacques-Nicolas (Jaak-Nicolaas) Lemmens (1823 –
1881), was an organist and composer for his instrument.
He was born at Zoerle-Parwijs, near Westerlo, Belgium,
Lemmens took lessons from François-Joseph Fétis, who
wanted to make him into a musician capable of renewing
the organ-player's art in Belgium. Fétis sent him to
Adolf Friedrich Hesse in Germany to learn Johann
Sebastian Bach's tradition.
In 1847, Lemmens won the Paris Conservatoire's
prestigious Prix de Rome with his Le roi Lear ("King
Lear"). One year later he published his first work for
organ: Dix improvisations dans le style sévère et
chantant ("Ten improvisations in a strict and singing
style"). In March 1849 he was appointed organ teacher
at the Royal Brussels Conservatoire, aged only 26; and
he trained numerous young musicians, including two
eminent Frenchmen, Alexandre Guilmant and Charles-Marie
Widor.
During 1852 he gave organ recitals in Saint Vincent de
Paul, La Madeleine and Saint Eustache churches in
Paris, where he stunned audiences with his technique.
Particularly notable was his brilliant pedal-playing,
which owed a good deal to his studies of Bach's music
(at the time Bach's organ works were not at all well
known in France). In 1857 he married the English
soprano Helen Sherrington (1834–1906), who in the
following decade emerged as a leading English concert
and operatic singer. He died at Zemst, near Mechelen,
Belgium.
Ave Maria is Latin for Hail Mary, a traditional Roman
Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer calling for the
intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Although originally written for Voice (ST) and Organ, I
created this arrangement for Flute & Concert (Pedal)
Harp.
SHEET MUSIC