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.
Tota pulchra es is an old Catholic prayer, written in
the fourth century. It is one of the five antiphons for
the psalms of Second Vespers for the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception. The title means "You are
completely beautiful" (referring to the Virgin Mary).
It speaks of her immaculate conception. It takes some
text from the book of Judith, and other text from Song
of Songs, specifically 4:7.
Although originally written for Voice (SA) and Organ, I
created this arrangement for Wind Sextet (Flute, Oboe,
Bb Clarinet, French Horn, Bass Clarinet & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC