Noëls pour orgue (Aux grandes orgues de la cathédrale Saint-Théodorit d’Uzès)

June 15th marks the 250th anniversary of Louis-Claude Daquin’s passing. One of the main representatives of the keyboard school in France 18th-century, he remains famous mostly for his irresistible imitative pieces such as the classical hit The Cuckoo. He also left a splendid set of “noëls” (varied pieces composed for the organ after Christmas folk tunes), probably the most beautiful example of this specifically French tradition. Marie-Claire Alain recorded this beautiful version, one of the earliest ever made, on the admirable organ of Uzès, southern France.