Pierre Pincemaille facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Pincemaille
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Pierre Pincemaille, 2004
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| Background information | |
| Born | 8 December 1956 Paris 17e, France |
| Died | 12 January 2018 (aged 61) Suresnes, France |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Improviser, organist, pedagogue |
| Instruments | Organ |
| Years active | 1973-2017 |
Pierre Pincemaille (born December 8, 1956 – died January 12, 2018) was a very talented French organist. He was also known for his amazing improvisations on the organ. This means he could make up music on the spot! He was also a teacher, helping others learn music.
He became famous for his recordings of organ music by composers like Charles-Marie Widor, Maurice Duruflé, and César Franck. He played these on special organs built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. For many years, he was the main organist at the important Basilica of Saint-Denis in France. Many people thought he was one of the best organists of his time.
Contents
Life and Musical Journey
Pierre Pincemaille was born in Paris, France. He started learning to play the piano in 1965. A few years later, in 1968, he began studying the organ.
He went to the famous Paris Conservatory. This is a top music school. He earned five first prizes there. These were for different music subjects like harmony, counterpoint, fugue, organ, and improvisation. He learned from great teachers such as Henri Challan and Rolande Falcinelli.
In 1987, Pierre Pincemaille became the main organist at the Basilica of Saint-Denis. This is a very important church near Paris. He held this job until he passed away. Another one of his students, Quentin Guérillot, took over in 2018.
Winning Music Competitions
Between 1978 and 1990, Pierre Pincemaille won five big international organ competitions. These wins showed how incredibly talented he was.
- 1978: First Prize at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Lyon
- 1987: Grand Prix at the Concours Européen d'Orgue in Beauvais
- 1989: First Prize at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Strasbourg
- 1989: Grand Prix at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Montbrison
- 1990: Grand Prix in improvisation at the Concours de Chartres
Teaching and Improvising
Pierre Pincemaille was also a dedicated teacher. He taught counterpoint at the Paris Conservatory. He also taught organ improvisation at the Regional Conservatory in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. Plus, he taught harmony and counterpoint in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
He was especially known as a master of improvisation. He would often improvise music during church services at the Basilica of Saint-Denis. He also improvised during his concerts, following the style of the French organ school.
Composing Music
Besides playing and teaching, Pierre Pincemaille also wrote music. Some of his published works include:
- An Ave Maria for choir (2013)
- En Louisiane for trombone and piano (2004)
- Prologue et Noël varié for organ (2007)
In 2017, three of his short religious songs, called motets, were performed for the first time. These included his Pater Noster, another Ave Maria, and Ave Verum.
Concerts Around the World
Pierre Pincemaille gave over 1000 concerts and recitals during his career. He performed all over the world. He played in countries like France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the USA, and South Africa.
Awards and Recognition
He received several important awards for his contributions to music and culture:
- Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques
- Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
- Chevalier de l'Ordre de Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand
Pierre Pincemaille passed away on January 12, 2018, at the age of 61. He died from lung cancer. After his death, many concerts and radio shows were dedicated to remembering his amazing musical legacy.
Recordings
Pierre Pincemaille recorded about twenty CDs. These recordings let people enjoy his incredible talent. Some of his famous recordings include:
- The complete organ music of César Franck (Motette 12541)
- The complete organ music of Maurice Duruflé (Solstice SOCD 231–232)
- The 10 symphonies of Charles-Marie Widor (Solstice SOCD 181–185)
- Written works by Pierre Cochereau (Solstice SOCD 163)
- Early works by Olivier Messiaen (IFO 00318/19)
- 8 CDs featuring his own improvisations
See also
In Spanish: Pierre Pincemaille para niños
