Renaud de Vilbac (1829-1884) was a composer, organist and teacher working in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century. From 1855 to 1871, he was organist at the Parisian church of St. Eugène, a Gothic Revival gem in the 9th Arrondissement. This Meditation (“pour jouer entre le sermon et le salut”—to be played after the sermon) is from his volume of church music for harmonium entitled “L’Intituteur Organiste.” The instrument is a handsome Alexandre Père et Fils harmonium (their No. 56073), built in Paris and still in use in the church of La Madeleine in Paris. It has a rosewood case, ivory keyboard, four stops in the bass and six stops in the treble; it has been described to me as "Lefébure-Wély's harmonium" and "Gabriel Fauré's harmonium." These and other former titular organists of La Madeleine (Saint-Saens, Dubois, Dallier and Mignan) may have played it and composed on it. Many thanks to the staff at La Madeleine for their warm reception, and for letting me play this fine instrument. Performed by Michael Hendron; recorded 28 September 2018.
