Mel Bonis expressed her profound Christian faith through works for organ and sacred vocal pieces for choir or soloist. Her works for organ include about thirty pieces (as Corale) which are often difficult to date with precision. Certain pieces (including the Toccata) were intended for the collection Maîtres contemporains de l'orgue (Contemporary Organ Masters), published by Sénart under the direction of Abbé Joubert, but the war of 1914-1918 hindered their publication. Other pieces date from the last part of Mel Bonis' life, after 1930. Virtually all of the organ works of Mel Bonis were published in 1971 by the Italian editor Carrara in Bergamo.

The three pieces by Nadia Boulanger for organ or harmonium, Prélude, Improvisation, and Petit canon, were published in 1912 by Maurice Sénart in the collection Maîtres contemporains de l'orgue, edited by Abbé Joubert.

Amongst the works most appreciated by contemporaries of Elfrida Andrée are Snöfrid (1879), a ballad for soloists, choir and orchestra, and the First Organ symphony in B minor (1892), which is presented in this recording. This symphony is in four contrasting movements: a Moderato, a Fugato andante lento e grazioso, and a Cantabile, which is connected through a transitional crescendo to the Finale allegro giusto e maestoso.

translation  G