Litanies was composed in 1937 and remains the best-known and most-often-played organ work of French composer Jehan Alain. This short composition is based on a snatch of chant-like melody, given as an incipit at the start of the work. Litanies is improvisational in nature and takes this melodic idea through a variety of guises, ranging from joyous, gentle, and reflective expressions through more troubled, apprehensive and generally serious passages. The motif is placed in contrast with a two-chord progression that likewise is subjected to some interesting transformations. The work concludes with an impressive downward chordal passage based on a whole-tone scale, finally resolving in a large complex of notes that is neither predominantly major or minor.

Alain left an explanatory postscript that appears at the end of the published score stating his intent: "When the Christian soul in its distress finds no new words with which to implore God's mercy, it repeats endlessly the same invocation with strong faith. Reason having attained its zenith, Faith alone reaches on high."

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide