Louis Victor Jules Vierne (1870-1937) was one of the most important French organists and composers of the pre-war, late Romantic period. He is best-known for his Organ Symphonies, which are among the very best that are still performed. Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover first-hand all his wonderful works today.
At the age of three, Louis Vierne and his family moved to Paris. Despite suffering with congenital cataracts from birth, it was clear Louis had an incredible talent for music, and with the help of an iridectomy at the age of six, he was able to start studying the piano. In 1880 he heard César Franck play the organ, and from that moment on, Louis’ fate was decided. He completed his studies in organ, and organ improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire in 1894, under the tutorage of Charles-Marie Widor. The high point of his organ career was his appointment as Head Organist at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris 1900, which he held until his death in 1937.
Louis Vierne is one of the leading exponents of the symphonic organ movement, which aims to replicate the sound of a whole symphony orchestra on the organ. The top instruments of the 19th century came from the workshop of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. Charles-Maria Widor and Charles Tournemire were also prominent representatives of the symphonic organ movement. Vierne composed six organ symphonies, and he also devoted himself to piano works, chamber music, vocal works and the symphony.
Despite the iridectomy, Louis’ sight was strongly impaired all his life, and he used extra-large sheet music and a ’large pencil’ when he composed, as his friend Marcel Dupré describes it. Having learnt in early years, as his sight began to deteriorate, he began relying more and more on the braille system. In 1908, due to an onset of glaucoma, he lost his sight completely.
During his 1750th organ concert in Notre Dame Cathedral on June 2, 1937, Louis Vierne suffered a heart attack. He managed to finish the piece, but collapsed during the improvisation that followed. He died playing one single note on his beloved organ, after falling on one of the pedals.
aus: "Silhouettes d'enfants", op. 43 (Nr. 2)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 4023
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 818336
from Solemn Mass, Op. 16
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1158205
Complete Organ Works, Volume I
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466829
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 585635
5 Pieces for Organ + 1 or 2 Instrument 2
for: 1–2 melodic instruments (C), piano [organ]
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 603477
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 291424
for: Mixed choir (SAB), organ
Score
Item no.: 919752
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 879749
aus: "Silhouettes d'enfants", op. 43 (Nr. 1)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 3927
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1201370
Complete Organ Works, Volume II
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466830
Complete Piano Works, Volume 3
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466845
fur Orgel
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 989154
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1201154
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 623537
Sämtliche Orgelwerke Band 11
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 493876
Au soir
for: Mixed choir (SSAATBB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 617776
Arrangement
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 580412
for: Organ
Item no.: 224755
24 Pieces in free style
Vol. 2: Nos. 13–24
for: Organ [harmonium]
Music score
Item no.: 603149
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 921892
Complete Organ Works, Volume 5
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466833
Complete Organ Works, Volume 4
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466832
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 488267
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 269628
Musik aus der Frauenkirche Dresden
Complete Organ Works, volume 1
for: Organ
Audio-CD
Item no.: 691979
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 485071
Complete Piano Works, Volume II
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466844
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 466190
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 1383138
Quatrième Suite op. 55
Sämtliche Orgelwerke 10
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 619173
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 851554
for: Organ
Audio-CD
Item no.: 767890
Sämtliche Orgelwerke 8/1
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ manuals [harmonium]
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 466839
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 490490
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 864530
pour piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 851272
Première Suite op. 51
Sämtliche Orgelwerke 7
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 555918
Sämtliche Orgelwerke 12
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 493877
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 101215
aus "Triptyque pour grand Orgue", op. 58 (Nr. 3)
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 3313
Klassik
for: Organ [harmonium]
Buch
Item no.: 269627
Improvisationen (1928) / Transkriptionen (1894 / 1901 / 1932)
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Organ
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 664656
for: Cello, piano
Score
Item no.: 340342
Sologesang Mit Instrumenten Und Orgel 41
for: Voice (high), organ
Item no.: 484831
Troisième Suite op. 54
Sämtliche Orgelwerke 9
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 485813
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1337851