French organist and composer
Albert Alain
Born 1 March 1880 Died 15 November 1971(1971-11-15) (aged 91) Education Occupations
Albert Paul Alain (1 March 1880 – 15 October 1971[ 1] ) was a 20th-century French organist and composer.
Biography
Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Clarisse-Alphonsine Fouquet (born 1859) and Paul François Alain (born 1851), he entered in adulthood into the Conservatoire de Paris and obtained a first prize for harmony in 1904. He pursued counterpoint studies with Georges Caussade , fugue and music composition with Charles Lenepveu and Gabriel Fauré , at the same time as he worked on the organ with Guilmant and Louis Vierne . In 1924, succeeding Albert Renaud , he became organist of the church of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a position he held until his death.
Passionate about organ building, he built over the years (1911–1970) an instrument with 4 keyboards and 43 stops in his house. This organ is now installed in Romainmôtier , Switzerland.
He married Magdeleine Alberty in 1910, and they became parents of four children with exceptional gifts: Jehan (1911-1940), Marie-Odile (1914-1937), Olivier (1918-1994) and Marie-Claire (1926–2013).
Works
As a composer of religious music, he is responsible for 469 pieces, among others:
Organ and harmonium
vol. 4 : Offertoire pour la semaine de Pâques sur l’Antienne Vespere et la Prose O Filii ; Marche nuptiale (1900) ;
vol. 7 : Alla Hændel , Alla Bach , Alla Franck pour grand orgue avec pédale (1914). Cf. Pièces d'orgue , 1st series.
Pièces d'orgue , 2nd series, Sénart, Paris (1914) : IV. Cortège - V. Andantino - VI. Rapsodie sur des Noëls connus .
15 Pièces pour Harmonium ou Orgue sur des Thèmes liturgiques , L.-J. Biton, St-Laurent-sur-Sèvre (Vendée), 1919.
Suite héroïque in the 2nd issue of the series Les Voix de la douleur chrétienne published by abbott Joubert by A. Ledent-Malay in Brussel (1924).
Vocal music
Motets :
À la Sainte Croix (4 mixed or 3 equal voices and organ)
Ave Verum Corpus (4 mixed voices)
Choral final: Chantons Jésus (4 mixed or 3 equal voices)
Mystères Glorieux (soloist and 4 mixed or 3 equal voices and organ
Isti Sunt Agni Novelli (4 mixed voices).
Quae es ista (duet and choir with two equal voices) - 1903
Messe de Noël sur des thèmes anciens (4 mixed voices and organ)
Messe en l’honneur de Saint Louis (4 mixed/unison or 4 equal voices with accompaniment)
Messe Royale du 1° Ton de Henry Du Mont (4 mixed voices).
Cantate à Sainte Louise de Marillac (singing and organ)
La Cathédrale Incendiée (4 mixed voices, and organ) lyrics by Henri Ghéon .
Sources
Bibliography
Aurélie Decourt. Un musicien dans la ville. Albert Alain et Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1880-1971) ,[ 2] éditions du Valhermeil, 2001.
Discography
Albert Alain par Marie-Claire Alain au grand orgue Cavaillé-Coll/Haerpfer et orgue de chœur Cavaillé-Coll de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Calliope (2007) : Finale op. 429 - Andantino op. 346 - Aria op. 425 - Scherzo op. 423 - Élégie op. 396 - Andantino op. 437 - Toccatina op. 373 - Pas trop lent op. 345 - Assez lent op. 357 - Andantino con moto op. 347 - Berceuse op. 395 - Carillon sur « Lauda Sion » op. 424 - Carillon de Bougival op. 368 - Au temps de Noël op. 360 - Prière op. 427 - Andante op. 306 - Finale sur « Cantemus Domino » op. 323.
Albert Alain Complete discography by Alain Cartayrade on France Orgue.
References
External links
International National Academics Artists Other