The organist at the “grand” organ ideally has five occasions during the Catholic Mass in France to offer his or her own compositions or improvisations: Entrée, Offertoire, Élévation, Communion and Sortie. The “Communion” is the time for music to accompany and follow the distribution of the elements; naturally, this music – like the music for the “Élévation” (music at the transubstantiation) – tends to be calm and meditative. In view of this functional nature, providing a full accompaniment to a repeatedly occurring liturgical act, a large number of pieces of different lengths are needed to suit the size of the celebrating congregation. They were found only rarely in Classical French organ music, but in the 19th and early 20th century a large number of communions emerged in France – meeting the massive liturgical demand. There were no formal requirements to be observed, although the ABAˈ reprise principle was used most frequently. The compositions chosen for this volume are the outcome of a reading and evaluation of more than 250 Communions from the 19th and early 20th century. An important criterion in the selection of pieces was, in addition to the musical quality, the intention to offer a certain (but not exhaustive or exhausting!) variety of form and character. Well-known pieces by frequently performed composers such as Franck, Boëllmann and Dubois have not been included. Rather, the aim is to offer largely unknown pieces worthy of rediscovery in order – as in all volumes of this series – to broaden the repertoire as far as possible. All of the compositions in this collection can be played not only during communion, but also on any occasion which requires calming and “reverent” music. With regard to the level of difficulty of the compositions, the principle was that all the works should be easily played by part-time, non-professional organists; full-time organists will find the pieces to be useful sight-reading material. In pieces notated on two lines, the pedal can be used in accordance with the player’s taste and ability; only occasionally are suggestions made for this. Editor: Andreas Willscher, Hans-Peter Bähr CONTENT: Lecocq, Léon: Communion Benoist, François: Communion Simon, Antoine: Communion Letocart, Henri: Communion Raffy, Antoine Louis: Communion Loret, Clément: Communion Bonis, Mélanie Hélène: Communion Collin, Charles-Augustin: Communion Justin, Charles: Communion ou Élévation Metzler, Adolphe: Communion Joly, Camille Louis: Communion ou Élévation Antzenberger, Joseph: Communion ou Élévation Vierne, Louis: Communion Erb, Marie Joseph: Communion Lefébure-Wely, Louis James Alfred: Communion Deshayes, Henri: Communion op. 16, 9 Montber, Jehan de: Communion Niedermeyer, Louis: Communion Claussmann, Aloÿs: Communion Clavers, Rémy: Communion Tournemire, Charles: Communion Lemmens, Jacques-Nicolas: Communion Renaud, Albert: Communion in F op. 116, 3 Mac-Master, Georges: Communion Guilmant, Alexandre: Communion aus op. 65 Gigout, Eugène: Communion