Daniel Roth (organist)


François Daniel Roth is a French organist, composer, musicologist, and pedagogue. He was titular organist of the Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, from 1985 to 2023, and is currently the emeritus titular organist.
WWW danielroth.fr

Early life and education

Roth was born in Mulhouse to René Roth and his wife Angèle. He began his musical training at the conservatoire in his hometown with Joseph Victor Meyer. In 1960, he entered the Conservatoire de Paris, where he graduated with five first prizes—in organ and improvisation, harmony, counterpoint and fugue, and piano accompaniment. He later continued his organ studies with Marie-Claire Alain after graduating from Falcinelli's class.

Career

Organist

In 1963 Roth became Falcinelli's deputy at the great organ at Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Paris. He succeeded her as titular organist in 1973, and held this position until 1985, when he was appointed titular organist at the Church of Saint-Sulpice.
Roth retired from St. Sulpice in 2023 and was succeeded by Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin and Karol Mossakowski as co-titular organists. He was appointed emeritus titular organist and continues to play at the church for one recital and one mass per month.

Teaching positions

From 1974 to 1976 he was artist-in-residence at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and professor of organ at the Catholic University of America, both in Washington, D.C. He also held teaching positions at the conservatoires of Marseille, Strasbourg and Saarbrücken. From 1995 to 2007 he taught organ performance and improvisation at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. He was also a consultant for the new organ built by the Karl Schuke company at the Luxembourg Philharmonie, which he dedicated in 2005.

Awards and recognition

Roth has won several prestigious organ competitions, including the competition of the "Amis de l'orgue" and the Grand Prix in organ performance and improvisation in the Concours de Chartres in 1971.
He is a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. In 2006 he received the European Prize of European sacred music from the German Schwäbisch Gmünd Festival.

Personal life

Roth was married to Odile Josèphe-Georgette Mangin, with whom he had four children, including the painter Anne-Marie Roth Baud, the conductor and flautist François-Xavier Roth and the violist Vincent Roth.

Compositions

Organ solo

Cinq Versets sur Veni Creator for organ manualiter Évocation de la Pentecôte Final Te Deum Introduction et Canzona Joie, Douleur et Gloire de Marie Hommage à César Franck Après une Lecture... Pour la nuit de Noël :
  • *Prélude "Veni, veni Emmanuel"
  • *Communion
  • *PostludeTriptyque - Hommage à Pierre Cochereau :
  • *Prélude
  • *Andante
  • *ToccataPetite Rhapsodie sur une chanson alsacienne Artizarra - Fantaisie sur un chant populaire basque, pour la fête de I'Epiphanie Fantaisie fuguée sur Regina caeli Livre d'orgue pour le Magnificat, Hommage au Facteur d'orgues Aristide Cavaillé-Coll :
  • * Vol. 1 :
  • ** 1a. Magnificat
  • ** 1b. Et exsultavit
  • ** 2. Quia respexit
  • ** 3. Quia fecit
  • ** 4. Et misericordia
  • ** 5. Fecit potentiam
  • * Vol. 2 :
  • ** 6. Deposuit
  • ** 7. Esurientes
  • ** 8. Suscepit
  • ** 9. Sicut locutus est
  • ** 10. Gloria PatriChristus factus est - Fantaisie sur le graduel de la messe du Jeudi Saint Contrastes Ut, ré, mi - Fantaisie sur l'hymne à saint Jean Baptiste Ave maris stella Die Liebe... ein Feuer! La Pentecôte Deux courtes pièces liturgiques :
  • * Alleluia
  • * Méditation
  • '''Prélude pour l'Introït de la messe du jour de Noël, "Puer natus est"'''

Organ for four hands

Diptyque :
  • * Andante
  • * ''Allegro giocoso''

Two organs

Fantaisie-Dialogue Quatre Pièces
  • * Prélude
  • * Offertoire
  • * Communion
  • * ''Sortie''

Chamber music

Légende for oboe and piano Aïn Karim - Fantasia for flute and organ Pièce pour viola and organ

Vocal works

Reine du ciel a capella Notre Père a capella Gebt Zeugnis! for soloists, choir and organ Missa Brevis for SATB choir and organ :
  • * Kyrie
  • * Gloria
  • * Sanctus
  • * Agnus DeiIn manus tuas Domine for SATB Ego sum panis for SATB choir and organ Missa de archangelis for SATB choir and organ :
  • * Kyrie
  • * Sanctus
  • * Benedictus
  • * Agnus Dei3 Motets for mixed choir a capella :
  • * Ave Maria
  • * Dignare me, o Jesu
  • * Regina CaeliAve Maria for soprano and organ Missa festiva Orbis factor for mixed choir and organ Missa beuronensis for organ and gregorian chant
  • Psalm 124: "Unsere Seele ist entronnen" Cantata "Nun lobet Gott im hohen Thron" Jubilate Deo for mixed choir a capella

Orchestra

Licht im Dunkel for organ, piano and orchestra:
  • * I. L'Espérance
  • * II. L'Amour
  • * III. ''La Joie''

Transcriptions for organ

César Franck: Interlude symphonique from the oratorio "Rédemption"