Albert Jacques Périlhou (2 April 1846 – 28 August 1936) was a French

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, organist, and pianist.

Biography

Born in Daumazan-sur-Arize on 2 April 1846, he was the only son of Jean-Justin Périlhou (born 1820 in Laroque-d'Olmes), an organist in Pézenas, and couturière Marie-Jeanne Balbine Carrière (born 1827 in Daumazan-sur-Arize) and received further instruction as an organist under

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (; 9 October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano C ...

at the

Niedermeyer Niedermeier is a German surname. The name was initially used as a distinguishing name for a farmer (Meier) who had a farm lower (nieder) than the neighboring one(s). Variants are Niedermaier, Niedermair, Niedermayer, Niedermayr, Niedermeier, Niederm ...

school. After some time passed in which he became an organist and a piano teacher in

Saint-Étienne Saint-Étienne (; frp, Sant-Etiève; oc, Sant Estève, ) is a city and the prefecture of the Loire department in eastern-central France, in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Saint-Étienne is the t ...

, he became professor of piano at the Conservatoire de Lyon (1883). He later moved to Paris in 1888 as an artistic advisor of maison

Erard Erard may refer to: * St. Erard or Erhard of Regensburg, bishop of Regensburg in the 7th century * Erard I, Count of Brienne (1060 - 1114) * Sébastien Érard (1752 - 1831), French instrument maker of German origin who specialised in the production ...

, he became organist of

Saint-Séverin Saint-Séverin (; oc, Sent Severin) is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. Geography The Lizonne forms the commune's eastern border, then flows into the Dronne, which forms the commune's southern border. Populatio ...

(1889) at the new instrument rebuilt by John Abbey, and then auditioned for and was granted the position of titular organist of Saint-Eustache in 1905, resigned the following year. In 1910 he was named director of the Niedermeyer school. Périlhou was a prolific composer who wrote a large body of music for piano, organ, orchestra and voice. He retired in 1914 to Tain-l'Hermitage, where he died at the age of 90 on 28 August 1936. Probably following the example of his teacher and friend Saint-Saëns, he lived for some time in Algeria. His wife Jeanne Petit (born 4 February 1858 in

Sens Sens () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yonne Departments of France, department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France, 120 km from Paris. Sens is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture and the second city of the d ...

), who he married on 8 July 1879 in her hometown, passed away on 1 September in Tournon-sur-Rhône in the year following his death. They had a son, Louis. Périlhou and his wife are buried in

Peaugres Peaugres (; oc, Peugre) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France. Population See also * Safari de Peaugres *Communes of the Ardèche department The following is a list of the 335 communes of the Ardèche department of F ...

Works

Louis Vierne called him "a composer of the 18th century". Recognised as a great improviser, he strove for the colors of the instrument's tone more than tricks of the genre. He preferred delicacy and accessibility over esoteric classical styles. "Distingués" and refined, his works can fit in concert settings as well as in Liturgy. His music is airy without stretching the artistry required, and his legacy is one of elegance, culture, and strength. *''Livre d’orgue''. Simples pieces composed specially for "le service ordinaire" in seven books ( Heugel, 1899-1905) : **1st book : 7 preludes and 3 transcriptions (J.S. Bach and J. Massenet) **2nd book : 7 pieces, preludes and etudes and 3 transcriptions (R. Schumann and J.S. Bach) **3rd book : 7 pieces, ''Prélude et Marche'', and 3 transcriptions (F. Mendelssohn and J.S. Bach) **4th book : 7 pieces, ''Prélude'', ''Cloches'', and 3 transcriptions (Th. Arne and J.S. Bach) **5th book : 3 church pieces (''Le Cloître'', ''Noël'', ''Le jour des morts au Mont-Saint-Michel''), 3 Impromptus (for home organ), 2 Preludes and 3 Fugues from the ''Well-Tempered Clavier'' by J.S. Bach **6th book : 6 Noëls, ''O salutaris'', ''Adoremus'', ''Andantino'', ''Le Glas'', 2 Handel transcriptions **7th book : 6 pieces, ''Impressions'' (Saint-Sernin de Toulouse basilica), ''Épithalame'', ''Lamento'', ''Barcarolle'' (for home organ), ''Nox'' (without pedal). *''Ballade'' for flute or violin, accompanied by piano. *''Chanson de Guillot Martin'', arranged for harp by Marcel Grandjany *''Fantaisie pour 2 pianos'' * ''La Primavera: Chanson vénitienne de Reynaldo Hahn'', Paraphrase for piano on the song by Reynaldo Hahn *String quartet *String quintet *Concerto for flute and orchestra *Symphonic works : ''Scènes gothiques'', ''Scènes d’après le folklore des provinces de France'', ''Une veillée en Bresse'', ''Une fête patronale en Velay''.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Perilhou, Albert 1846 births 1936 deaths People from Ariège (department) 19th-century French composers 20th-century French composers French male composers 19th-century French male classical pianists French classical organists French male organists 20th-century French male musicians Male classical organists