Suite Gothique


Suite gothique, Op. 25 is a suite for organ composed by Léon Boëllmann in 1895.
The suite consists of four movements:
  1. Introduction - Choral
  2. Menuet gothique
  3. Prière à Notre-Dame
  4. Toccata
The first movement is in C minor and is made up of harmonized choral phrases that are first played in block chords on the great and pedals, and then repeated, piano, on the Swell. The second movement is in 3/4 time and in C major. The third movement is in A-flat major; it rarely uses dynamics above 'piano'. The final fourth movement is the best-known of the suite. This movement returns to C minor, ending with a Tierce de Picardie on full organ.
The suite was transcribed for brass band by Eric Ball, and is frequently used as a concert finale by bands such as Fodens, Black Dyke and Brighouse and Rastrick [Brass Band|Brighouse & Rastrick], as well as a test piece in British brass band#Contesting in [the United Kingdom|contesting].

In popular culture

The Smurfs (1981 [TV series)|The Smurfs], a 1981 television series with widespread usage of classical pieces, used the suite.