Yves Devernay

Grandes-Orgues of Notre-Dame de Paris

Yves Marie-Édouard Devernay (Tourcoing 9 May 1937 – Tourcoing 10 December 1990) was a 20th-century French organist, improviser and composer.

Biography

Leaflet announcing the concert of the Club International with Yves Devernay

First a pupil of Jeanne Joulain at the Roubaix conservatory, in 1958 he joined Rolande Falcinelli's class at the Conservatoire de Paris, after spending one year in the Lille Conservatory. Laureate of the Organ Prize in 1961, he also studied briefly with Marie-Claire Alain and won several international competitions, including the Grand Prix de Chartres in 1971, tied with Daniel Roth.

A professor of organ at the conservatories of Roubaix and Valenciennes, he was also a virtuoso organist with a great technique combined with an undeniable talent for improvisation. Appointed in 1985 co-titular of the organs of Notre-Dame de Paris alongside Olivier Latry, Philippe Lefèbvre and Jean-Pierre Leguay, following Pierre Cochereau's death, He was also titular organist of the Église Saint-Christophe de Tourcoing from 1965.

He died of a heart attack in 1990.

On 10 December 2010, a plaque was affixed at the entrance of the cemetery of the town of Mouvaux, where he rests.

During 40 years, his uncle Édouard Devernay played the organ of the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church in Trouville-sur-Mer (Calvados) from 1912 to 1952.

Works

• Several pieces for choir and organ
• 2 concertos for organ and orchestra
• Ballade for oboe and organ
• Dialogue for piano and organ

Bibliography

Poster of the concert given with Yves Devernay's help, organised in Lille by le Club International.

• In Mémoriam Yves Devernay (1937-1990), 98 pages, published by his friends
• Étienne Delahaye, À Saint-Christophe de Tourcoing avec Yves Devernay. L'Orgue, n° 290, 2010 – II.
• Étienne Delahaye, Yves Devernay (1937-1990). La passion au bout des doigts. Orgues Nouvelles, n°.23, winter 2014

Discography

• Hommage à Yves Devernay - Inauguration du Grand Orgue de Notre-Dame de Paris 4 December 1992. - CD Réf.: JM 003 - ADD

1. Improvisation "néo-classique" (sortie de vêpres 24 janvier 1988); 2. O. Messiaen (1908-1992): Transports de joie (sortie de messe 11 mars 1990); 3. Improvisation : paraphrase sur un thème de Nabucco de Verdi (private concert 31 March 1987); 4. F. Liszt (1811-1886): Prélude et fugue sur B.A.C.H. (sortie de messe 20 mars 1988). Production : Visual Communication.

• Yves Devernay aux grandes orgues de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris - CD Réf.: 16 214 Mitra Digital

C.-M. Widor : Allegro extract of the Fifth Symphony; E. Devernay: Le Miracle de la Tempête; M. Duruflé: Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d’Alain; J. Guillou: Sinfonietta; J. Langlais: Nazard, extract of the Suite française; M. Dupré: Variations sur un noël; E. Gigout: Toccata.

• Yves Devernay - Improvisations à Notre-Dame de Paris - CD Réf.: D2892 SM 63) Studio SM

Improvisations au cours d’offices (entrées, offertoires, communions, sorties, versets de vêpres)

External links

• Musica et Memoria Obituaires, Yves Devernay.
• Association des Amis des Orgues de Bruay-la-Buissière Détails biographiques et photos.
• Site de Notre-Dame de Paris Détails biographiques et photos.
• (in French) Yves Devernay improvises on Easter 1989 on YouTube.
• (in French) Improvisation on the name of Yves Devernay on YouTube, March 15, 1992, by Pierre Pincemaille in the Basilique du Saint-Cordon in Valenciennes.