Ann Labounsky, Ph.D, FAGO, Ch.M

Events

  • César Franck at 200
    808 Howell St
    July 6, 2022 @ 8:00 am
    What do we know about the performance practice of the organ music of César Franck? Is there one correct interpretation? Both Labounsky and  Ferré have studied the complete organ works of César Franck with Jean Langlais at Sainte-Clotilde during the 1960s and provide first-hand accounts of his performance practice. Langlais was part of a continuum of interpretation through his teachers at INJA in Paris, his study with Marchal, and later with Tournemire. This style of interpretation was directly opposed to the Dupré’s style. In what ways did they differ? Was there a common denominator in interpretation in this style? How did the organs affect the interpretation? Other issues include tempi, repeated notes, registration, acoustics, adapting to American organs, levels of musical and technical difficulty, editions, recordings, and errata in the scores. Participants will receive handouts with historical background, errata, and how Franck composed.
  • Our Study With Jean Langlais
    808 Howell St
    July 7, 2022 @ 9:00 am
    Labounsky studied organ and improvisation with Jean Langlais from 1962-1964 under a Fulbright grant and subsequently recorded his entire opus of organ music. She also wrote a biography of the composer “Jean Langlais: the Man and His Music” as well as a video of his life based on the. Ferré studied with Langlais in Paris in the summer of 1964, and again on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1968-69. Both artists were guides of Langlais during his American tours in 1964 and 1967, respectively and both studied with Dupré.  As contrasted with understanding Franck’s style of interpretation through a continuum of interpretation, these two artists have first-hand knowledge of Langlais’ style and life from study with him. Both artists studied with him at the Schola Cantorum in Paris as well as at Sainte-Clotilde. Detailed handouts will be given to the participants.

Ann Labounsky
About

Ann Labounsky, Ph.D, FAGO, Ch.M., Chair of Organ and Sacred Music at Duquesne University where she oversees undergraduate and graduate programs in sacred music. She serves as Organ Artist in Residence at First Lutheran Church and Organist/Choir Director at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Pittsburgh.  An active member of the American Guild of Organists, she has worked as Director of the National Committee on Improvisation, Councilor for Education for the AGO. Author of a biography of Langlais, Jean Langlais: the Man and His Music, she recorded the complete organ works by Jean Langlais (26 cds) for the MHS now released on Voix de Vent Recordings and performed in a DVD of his life based on this biography, a project sponsored by the Los Angeles AGO Chapter. Her most recent work involved the AGO webinar on Langlais’ performance practices and improvisation. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY1vkdcQvE4&t=86s)