Marie-Claire Alain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie-Claire Alain
|
|
|---|---|
Alain at Saint-Donat in 1982
|
|
| Born |
Marie-Claire Geneviève Alain
10 August 1926 |
| Died | 26 February 2013 (aged 86) Le Pecq, France
|
| Other names | Marie-Claire Alain-Gommier |
| Occupation |
|
| Awards |
|
Marie-Claire Alain (born August 10, 1926 – died February 26, 2013) was a famous French organist. She was also a great teacher and a music expert. Marie-Claire was known for making many recordings. She made 260 recordings, more than any other classical organist in the world!
She taught many of today's best organists. Marie-Claire was especially good at playing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. She recorded all of Bach's organ music three times. She also loved playing French organ music.
Marie-Claire came from a very musical family. Her brothers, Jehan Alain and Olivier Alain, were also famous organists and composers. Her father, Albert Alain, was an amateur organ builder. People thought Marie-Claire was one of the most amazing organists of her time. They praised her clear playing and beautiful style.
Early Life and Music Training
Marie-Claire Geneviève Alain was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. This was on August 10, 1926. She was the youngest of four children. Her father, Albert Alain, was an organist and composer. Her brothers, Jehan and Olivier, were also talented musicians.
When Marie-Claire was 11, she started helping her father. He played the organ at their local church. She later went to the Conservatoire de Paris, a famous music school. There, she studied organ with Marcel Dupré. She won four top prizes at the school. She also studied music theory with Maurice Duruflé.
After her father passed away in 1971, Marie-Claire took his place. She became the organist at the church in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. She played there until she retired in 2011.
A Career in Music
In 1950, Marie-Claire Alain won second prize. This was at the Geneva International Music Competition. She became a teacher at two important conservatories. These were the Rueil-Malmaison and Paris Conservatories.
Many of her students became very famous organists. Some of them include Diane Bish, Daniel Roth, and Thomas Trotter. People said that her list of students was like a "who's who" of the organ world.
Marie-Claire was the most-recorded classical organist. She made over 260 recordings. She recorded all the organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach three times. She also recorded all the organ works of many other composers. She loved playing the music of her brother Jehan. He had died before she even started her music studies.
One of her popular recordings was with Maurice André. They played music for organ and trumpet. In 1994, she recorded Bach's works again. She told The Organ magazine why. She said it was because of the old instruments. Many of these organs were from Bach's time. She even played some that Bach himself had played! She said it was an amazing feeling.
Marie-Claire worked closely with the St Albans International Organ Festival. She also helped publish music written by her brother Jehan. This included his piece Chanson à bouche fermée.
She married Jacques Charles Gommier in 1950. He passed away in 1992. Their son, Benoît, died in 2009. Marie-Claire Alain passed away on February 26, 2013. She was in Le Pecq, France. She is survived by her daughter, Aurélie.
Awards and Honors
Marie-Claire Alain received many important awards:
- Léonie Sonning Music Prize (1980) from Denmark.
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (2010) from France. This is a very high honor.
