Jeanne Demessieux’s Six Études and the Piano Technique by Domitila Ballesteros

Despite her extraordinary reputation as an organist and composer, Jeanne Demessieux was known by her peers as a piano virtuoso as well, even from an early age, and for her performance of romantic works. French organ pedagogy recognized a strong piano background as indispensable to the best students of the organ. In this study, the author finds convincing evidence that the piano language of Chopin and Liszt strongly influenced the composition of Demessieux’s virtuosic Six Études for the organ. A panorama of the history, literature, and teaching of both organ and piano — instruments so differing in technical and expressive characteristics but which connect strongly in at least one moment of musical history — relate a new understanding to the reader and certainly inform a preparation for performance.

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