Alexandre Guilmant.html



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Clarence Eddy and Alexandre Guilmant, 1898

Félix-Alexandre Guilmant (12 March 1837 - 29 March 1911) was a French organist and composer.

Alexandre Guilmant was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer. A student of his father, then of Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens, he became an organist and teacher in his place of birth. In 1871 he was appointed as organist of la Trinité church in Paris, a position that he held for 25 years.¹ From then on he followed a career as a virtuoso; he gave concerts in Europe as well as in the United States. He died in Meudon in 1911.

Achievements

Guilmant created the Schola Cantorum in 1894 with Charles Bordes and Vincent d'Indy. In 1896 he succeeded Charles-Marie Widor as organ teacher of Conservatoire de Paris.¹

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).

Compositions

Guilmant was an accomplished composer, particularly for his own instrument, the organ. His organ repertoire includes; 'Pièces dans différents styles', published in 18 books; 'L'organist practique', published in 10 books; Eighteen 'Pièces Nouvelles'; 'L'Organiste liturgique', published in 12 books. Guilmant's Eight Sonatas were conceived with the Cavaille-Coll organ of La Trinité in mind, and are therefore symphonic in style and form, taking their place alongside the symphonic organ works of Cesar Franck and the Organ Symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor.

He also wrote chamber music, vocal music, a sinfonia cantata (Ariane) as well a lyric scene (Balthasar).

	Fugue alla Händel in F major
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Opuslist

References

External links

• Website on Guilmant with complete opus list
• Free scores by Alexandre Guilmant in the Werner Icking Music Archive (WIMA)
• Free scores by Alexandre Guilmant in the International Music Score Library Project
• Christ Church Cathedral Choir - Clive Driskill-Smith at YouTube