Organist Christopher Houlihan Releases New Recording, First and Last

Album features French works by Louis Vierne and César Franck, recorded on the only French-built organ in New York

Release date February 3, 2023, on Azica Records

"passionate and intelligently virtuoso musician" — Gramophone

On February 3, 2023, organist Christopher Houlihan, described as “the next big organ talent” by the Los Angeles Times, releases First and Last on Azica Records. The album features César Franck’s “Grande Pièce Symphonique,” op. 17 (1860–62) and Louis Vierne’s Symphonie No. 6, op. 39 (1930).

Sharing his inspiration behind the album, Houlihan says, “Within this genre, there are no two pieces that better represent the trajectory of this style than Franck’s Grande pièce symphonique and Vierne’s Symphony No. 6 – essentially the first and the last French Romantic organ symphonies.” 

As a young musician, Vierne (1870–1937) idolized the famous César Franck (1822–1890) and by the time he was 16, had earned a coveted spot in Franck’s organ class at the Paris Conservatoire. Houlihan says, “It is tempting to see a parallel between Vierne’s musical style and his difficult life. And in fact, it is true that particularly poignant personal events occasionally sparked his creativity.”

First and Last was recorded on the Manton Memorial Organ “Pascal Quoirin” (2011) at the Church of the Ascension, the only French-built organ in New York. Houlihan explains the significance of playing this repertoire on the organ at Church of the Ascension, “Among organ music, the successful performance of French repertoire is especially dependent on the particular sonorities available on a given instrument. The Quoirin organ is a very good fit for the colorful demands of Franck and Vierne’s music, and it was an honor to return to Ascension Church for this recording.”

Houlihan has steeped himself in Louis Vierne’s music, having performed all six of the French composer’s organ symphonies in critically acclaimed marathon concerts across North America in 2012, on a tour that was launched at the Church of the Ascension on the 75th anniversary of Vierne’s death.

Of Vierne's organ symphonies, Houlihan says, “I am often asked if I have a favorite among Vierne’s symphonies. It’s hard (and unnecessary) to pick, but the sixth just might be my favorite. It has all the characteristics that make Vierne’s music so appealing, and perfectly in proportion. And, with Vierne at the height of his artistry, it also marks the apex of the French symphonic organ tradition — a fitting culmination of the style established with Franck’s Grande pièce symphonique.”

Contact ClassicalCommunications@gmail.com to request a physical CD or digital copy of this recording.

"glowing, miraculously life-affirming performances"— Los Angeles Times

Franck and Vierne: First and Last
French Romantic Organ Symphonies

Christopher Houlihan, organ

The Manton Memorial Organ, Pascal Quoirin (2011)
Church of the Ascension, New York

Azica Records (ACD-71356)
Release date: February 3, 2023

TRACKS
César Franck (1822 -1890) – Grande Pièce Symphonique, Op. 17 from Six pièces d’orgue (1860-1862) 
[01] Andantino serioso 4:03
[02] Allegro non troppo e maestoso 7:00
[03 Andante - Allegro - Andante 8:16
[04] Allegro non troppo c maestoso 2:49
[05] Beaucoup plus largement 4:10

Louis Vierne (1870–1937) – 24 Pièces en style libre, Op. 31
[06] Berceuse, no. 19 4:13

Louis Vierne – Symphonie No. 6, Op. 59 (1930)
[07] I. Introduction et Allegro 10:13
[08] II. Aria 7:27
[09] III. Scherzo 4:26
[10] IV. Adagio 9:51
[11] V. Final 7:31

Total Time = 69:59

About the Artist

The organist Christopher Houlihan has established an international reputation as a “passionate and intelligently virtuoso musician” (Gramophone), hailed for his "glowing, miraculously life-affirming performances" (Los Angeles Times). Houlihan has performed at Disney Concert Hall with the principal brass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, presented by the Philadelphia Orchestra; and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., presented by the National Symphony Orchestra. The Los Angeles Times raved about his Disney Hall debut, proclaiming, "Houlihan is the next big organ talent."

In addition to First and Last (Azica Records, 2023), his discography includes Christopher Houlihan plays Bach (Azica, 2018), and recordings of music by Maurice Duruflé and Jehan Alain, and Organ Symphony No. 2 by Louis Vierne, both on Towerhill Records.

Christopher Houlihan is the John Rose Distinguished College Organist and Director of Chapel Music, and Artist-in-Residence at Trinity College, where he succeeds his former teacher, John Rose. He is Artistic Director of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford, which sponsors one of the premier North American organ performance competitions. In addition to his studies at Trinity College, Houlihan studied with Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School and with Jean-Baptiste Robin at the French National Regional Conservatory in Versailles.