by Dom Gregory Murray
Relayed from Downside Abbey

Leon Boellmann (1862-97), French composer and organist, was chief organist at St. Vincent de Paul, Paris. He was a fine player and was noted for his gift for improvisation. Every form of composition interested him, excepting dramatic music. He is chiefly remembered in England by his organ works and the Variations Symphoniques for 'cello and orchestra.

Boellmann lived to be only thirty-five years of age. His 'Suite gothique', Op. 25, was published in 1895, two years before he died. Its title sums up the character of the music, which is majestic and in some respects forbidding, but always musicianly and impressive.