Charles-Marie Widor

Symphonie Gothique Op. 70

French composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) composed the organ work Symphonie Gothique, Op. 70 (Organ Symphony No. 9) between 1894 and 1895. It was dedicated to the Abbaye Saint-Ouen de Rouen, whose large (Gothic) organ recently installed in 1890 also inspired the work. While the first three movements were first performed from manuscript in Lyon, at Église d'Écully by Louis Vierne, the full premiere performance took place on April 28, 1895, at Saint-Ouen de Rouen, the composer at the organ.