Albert Alain

Albert Alain
Born1 March 1880
Died15 November 1971(1971-11-15) (aged 91)
Education
Occupations
  • Organist
  • Music educator

Albert Paul Alain (1 March 1880 – 15 October 1971) 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, Marie-Odile, Olivier and Marie-Claire.

Alain family tree

*Albert Alain

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.

Vocal music

Sources

Bibliography

Discography

References