Chant

Having served as the music of the Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years, chant has been the subject of improvisations throughout many different stylistic periods and in many different forms.
Some popular chant themes include:

Videos:
Gerre Hancock – Improvised versets on the Magnificat Solemn Tone – April 4, 2004 – St. Thomas
Otto Maria Krämer – Improvisation in Memoriam Marcel Dupré on “Ave maris stella”
Loïc Mallié Improvisation sur deux thèmes grégoriens
Olivier Messiaen – Puer Natus Est – La Trinité
Pierre Pincemaille – Conditor Alme Siderum – St. Denis
William Porter – Improvisation: Four Modal Variations on Salve Regina: I (Theme and Plein jeu)
William Porter – Improvisation: Four Modal Variations on Salve Regina: II (Scherzo)
William Porter – Improvisation: Four Modal Variations on Salve Regina: III (Meditation)
William Porter – Improvisation: Four Modal Variations on Salve Regina: IV (Introduction and Passacaglia)

Prelude

Preludes usually serve as introductory movements in multi-movement works, though they also may stand alone. The formal structure varies widely. The title may also refer simply to the piece of music played at the beginning of a worship service.

Example videos:
Philippe Lefebvre – Prélude – 01.05.2011 – Notre Dame
Loïc Mallié – Entrée improvisée – La Trinité, Paris
Olivier Penin – Prelude – St. Clotilde
Pierre Pincemaille – Prélude – St. Denis
William Porter – O dass ich tausend Zunge hätte – Prelude
Johann Vexo – Messe du dimanche soir 07.04.2013 – Prélude
Johann Vexo – Vêpres 07.04.2013 – Prélude

Pierre Pincemaille

PincemailleOfficial website:
pierrepincemaille.fr
You can hear him on Spotify.

In 1987, Pierre Pincemaille was appointed Titular Organist to the Basilique de Saint-Denis.


Recordings:

Improvisations on European National Anthems


Improvisations


Pincemaille: Improvisations sur des thèmes de Noël


Cannes : Un festival d’improvisations


Improvisationen (an der grossen Kuhn-Orgel des Mindener Doms)

Videos:
Prélude – St. Denis
Sortie – St. Denis
Offertoire – St. Denis
Conditor Alme Siderum – St. Denis
Improvisation sur “Noi canteremo gloria a Te” (aka OLD HUNDREDTH) – Chignolo d’Isola, Bergamo, Italy
Pierre Pincemaille – Theme and Variations on a popular tune – Saint-Martin de Dudelange – Luxembourg
Pierre Pincemaille – the film FAUST of MURNAU – Saint-Ouen de Rouen