Denison University organist William Osborne will perform a program called "The French Connection" at 3 p.m. on Sunday (March 25) in Swasey Chapel. The program presents the works of four composers who presided at the instrument of the church dedicated to Ste. Clothilde in Paris and a work by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault. The recital is free and open to the public. Osborne will also lead interested audience members on a tour of the 3,600 pipe instrument following the concert.

The afternoon recital will open with Jean Langlais' majestic "Te Deum." This will be followed by the colorful suites of liturgical music that Charles Tournemire wrote called "L'Orgue Mystique." Osborne will then play César Franck's "Chorale No. 1 in E. major," a suite by Clérambault, and conclude with Gabriel Pierné's "Three Pieces, opus 29".

Clérambault, a near contemporary of Bach, served as organist of the Royal School at St. Cyr near Versailles and at the church of St. Sulpice in Paris. Franck dedicated the organ at Ste. Clothilde and his students Pierné and Tournemire, plus Langlais all served as organist at the church.

Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts Osborne, a member of the Denison University faculty since 1961, serves as the University organist and as director of choral organizations. He will lead the Denison Singers on a tour of Portugal in May, the 10th foreign tour for the Singers. He has recorded two discs of Victorian-American music on the Orion and Crystal labels and has contributed 45 articles toThe New Grove Dictionary of American Music. Osborne is the author of a biography of the American concert organist Clarence Eddy published by The Organ Historical Society and has completed work on a critical edition of the organ works of Charles Ives.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

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