Organ Meditation - Dupré: Stations of the Cross

Le Chemin de la Croix (The Stations of the Cross), Op. 29, Marcel Dupré with Poetry by Paul Claudel

Since the Middle Ages Christians have long meditated through both prayer and art upon Jesus' final journey to Calvary (known as the Stations of the Cross) during the season of Lent. Sculptural depictions of the Stations of the Cross hang in the side aisles of Duke Chapel as visual interpretations of Christ's final hours. In 1931 the great French organist Marcel Dupré improvised a musical depiction of the Stations in Brussels as meditations on poems by Paul Claudel. For many years Dupré was organist at Notre Dame in Paris where he deputized for Louis Vierne. Throughout the fourteen movements of The Stations of the Cross, Dupré weaves a rich theological tapestry symbolizing religious themes of Christ's Passion (suffering, redemption, the cross, and piety to name just a few) by linking them to musical motives (four ascending notes, a descending major triad, etc.).

Come for some respite in the darkened Chapel for this meditative performance by Chapel Organist Christopher Jacobson of Dupré's music and Claudel's poetry.