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The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire: A Centenary Celebration
Washington, District of Columbia
In Lent 2027, Washington, DC will play host to the complete performance of Charles Tournemire’s two-hundred-fifty-three-movement, fifteen-hour-long masterpiece, L’Orgue Mystique, performed at nine churches throughout the city.
Composed between 1927 and 1932, L’Orgue Mystique is one of the most ambitious works in the organ repertoire: a musical journey through the Catholic liturgical year, drawing on Gregorian chant and a distinctly French modernist sound world. Rarely heard in its complete form, the cycle will unfold across seventeen evenings and nine of Washington’s notable church organs. This recital falls within the centenary of the composition of this work and is both a celebration of this masterpiece and is part of Tournemire’s contemporary cultural revival.
Click below to see an interview with the performer, or visit Pipedreams to hear a two-hour episode devoted to Tournemire featuring Michael Barone and his guest, Richard Spotts, broadcast in anticipation of his 2026 performance of L’Orgue Mystique in Philadelphia.
Series Programme
The Schedule
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part One)
Monday, 15 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
I. Gaudete: Dominica III in Adventus
II. Immaculata Conceptio Beatæ Mariæ Virginis
III. Nativitas Domini Nostri Jesu Christi
Part One: Saint Patrick Catholic Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Two)
Tuesday, 16 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
IV. De Dominica infra Octavam Nativitatis
V. Circumcisio Domini
VI. Sanctissimi Nominis Jesu
Part Two: Saint Paul’s Parish, K Street Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Three)
Wednesday, 17 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
VII. Epiphania Domini
VIII. Dominica I post Epiphania
IX. Dominica II post Epiphaniam
Part Three: Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Four)
Monday, 22 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
X. Dominica III post Epiphaniam
XI. Purification Beatæ Mariæ Virginis
XII. Dominica in Septuagesima
Part Four: Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Five)
Tuesday, 23 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XIII. Dominica in Sexagesima
XIV. Dominica in Quinquagesima
XV. Lætare: Dominica IV in Quadragesima
Part Five: The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Six)
Wednesday, 24 February 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XVI. Sabbato Sancto
XVII. Dominica Resurrectionis
XVIII. Quasimodo: Dominica I post Pascha
This evening concludes with the “Cantilène improvisée” (recorded by Tournemire on the thirtieth of April 1930) from the “Cinq improvisations” transcribed by Maurice Duruflé between 1956 and 1958.
Part Six: National City Christian Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Seven)
Monday, 1 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XIX. Dominica II post Pascha
XX. Sancti Joseph Sponsi Beatæ Mariæ Virginis
XXI. Dominica IV post Pascha
Part Seven: Saint Patrick Catholic Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Eight)
Tuesday, 2 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXII. Dominica V post Pascha
XXIII. In Ascensione Domini
XXIV. Dominica infra Octavam Ascensionis
Part Eight: Saint Dominic Catholic Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Nine)
Wednesday, 3 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXV. In Festo Pentecostes
XXVI. In Festo Sanctæ Trinitatis
XXVII. In Festo Corporis Christi
Part Nine: Saint Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Ten)
Monday, 8 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXVIII. Sacratissimi Cordis Jesu
XXIX. Dominica IV post Pentecosten
XXX. Dominica V post Pentecosten
Part Ten: Saint Paul’s Parish, K Street Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Eleven)
Tuesday, 9 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXXI. Dominica VI post Pentecosten
XXXII. Dominica VII post Pentecosten
XXXIII. Dominica VIII post Pentecosten
Part Eleven: The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Twelve)
Wednesday, 10 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXXIV. Dominica IX post Pentecosten
XXXV. In Assumptione Beatæ Mariæ Virginis
XXXVI. Dominica X post Pentecosten
Part Twelve: Saint Peter’s Church on Capitol Hill Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Thirteen)
Monday, 15 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XXXVII. Dominica XI post Pentecosten
XXXVIII. Dominica XII post Pentecosten
XXXIX. Dominica XIII post Pentecosten
This evening concludes with the “Petite rapsodie improvisée” (recorded by Tournemire in November of 1931) from the “Cinq improvisations” transcribed by Maurice Duruflé between 1956 and 1958.
Part Thirteen: Saint Joseph’s on Capitol Hill Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Fourteen)
Tuesday, 16 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XL. Dominica XIV post Pentecosten
XLI. Dominica XV post Pentecosten
XLII. Nativitas Beatæ Mariæ Virginis
Part Fourteen: Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Fifteen)
Wednesday, 17 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XLIII. Dominica XVI post Pentecosten
XLIV. Dominica XVII post Pentecosten
XLV. Dominica XVIII post Pentecosten
Part Fifteen: Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Sixteen)
Monday, 22 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XLVI. Dominica XIX post Pentecosten
XLVII. Dominica XX post Pentecosten
XLVIII. Festum Omnium Sanctorum
Part Sixteen: National City Christian Church Programme
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” by Charles Tournemire (Part Seventeen)
Tuesday, 23 March 2027, at 7:00 p.m.
XLIX. Dominica XXI post Pentecosten
L. Dominica XXII post Pentecosten
LI. Dominica XXIII post Pentecosten
Part Seventeen: Saint Dominic Catholic Church Programme
Video:
The Complete “L’Orgue Mystique” at Saint Paul’s Chestnut Hill, interview from 2020
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