Jacques-Nicolas (Jaak-Nicolaas) Lemmens (1823 –
1881), was an organist, music teacher, and composer for
his instrument. 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...(+)
Jacques-Nicolas (Jaak-Nicolaas) Lemmens (1823 –
1881), was an organist, music teacher, and composer for
his instrument. 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.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques-Nicolas_Lemmense
).
Although originally created for Organ, I created this
Interpretation of the the Adagio from "Sonate
Pontificale" in D Minor (No. 1) for String Quartet (2
Violins, Viola & Cello).
