- Alexandre Guilmant
Félix-Alexandre Guilmant (
12 March 1837 -29 March 1911 ) was a Frenchorganist andcomposer .Alexandre Guilmant was born in
Boulogne-sur-Mer . A student of his father, then ofJacques-Nicolas Lemmens , he became anorganist and teacher in his place of birth. In 1871 he was appointed asorganist of la Trinité church inParis , a position that he held for 25 years.Ochse, Orpha Caroline (1994). "Organists and Organ Playing in Nineteenth-Century France and Belgium", pp. 195-96. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253214238.] From then on he followed a career as avirtuoso ; he gave concerts inEurope as well as in theUnited States . He died inMeudon in 1911.Achievements
Guilmant created the
Schola Cantorum in 1894 withCharles Bordes andVincent d'Indy . In 1896 he succeededCharles-Marie Widor as organ teacher ofConservatoire de Paris .With
André Pirro , he published a collection of scores, "Archives des Maîtres de l'Orgue" (archives of the masters of the organ), a compilation of the compositions of numerous classical French composers in ten volumes, from 1898 to 1914. He proceeded in the same manner for foreign masters of the organ, publishing "l'École classique de l'Orgue" (classical school of the organ).Composition
Guilmant was an accomplished composer, particularly for his own instrument, the organ. His organ repertoire includes his 18 collections of "Pièces dans différents styles" (pieces in differing styles), the more liturgical "Soixante interludes dans la tonalité grégorienne" (60 pieces in Gregorian
tonality ) and his 12 books of "l'Organiste liturgique" (the liturgical organist). He also wrote chamber music, vocal music, a sinfonia cantata ("Ariane") as well a lyric scene ("Bathsheba").It should be emphasised that Guilmant's organ sonatas are in fact symphonic in form and structure. His actual organ symphonies include "Légende et Final symphonique" in D minor (symphonic legend and finale, opus 71, written in 1888) and "Morceau symphonique" in A minor (symphonic excerpt opus 75, written in 1892).
References
External links
* [http://www.guilmant.nl Website on Guilmant with complete opus list]
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