Jean-Baptiste Marcel Éloi Bonfils (21 April 1921 – 26 November 2007) was a 20th-century French

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

music educator Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do original ...

musicologist Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some m ...

and composer.

Biography

Born in Saint-Étienne (

Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...

), Bonfils commenced his musical studies at the . After the war, he resumed his studies at the

conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

where he obtained a First Prize in organ (1949) in the class of

Marcel Dupré Marcel Jean-Jules Dupré () (3 May 1886 – 30 May 1971) was a French organist, composer, and pedagogue. Biography Born in Rouen into a wealthy musical family, Marcel Dupré was a child prodigy. His father Aimable Albert Dupré was titular o ...

, a 2nd Prize in

composition Composition or Compositions may refer to: Arts and literature *Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography *Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include v ...

(1948) in the class of

Jean Rivier Alexis Fernand Félix Jean Rivier (21 July 1896 – 6 November 1987) was a French composer of classical music in the neoclassical style. The son of Henri Rivier, a co-inventor of Armenian paper, he composed over two hundred works, including mus ...

and a 1st medal in musical analysis (1950) with Olivier Messiaen. In the same year, he became Olivier Messiaen's assistant on the organ of the église de la Trinité à Paris, and this until 1992, then the assistant of

Naji Hakim Naji Subhy Paul Irénée Hakim (Arabic: ''ناجي صبحي حكيم'' 'Naji Sobhi Hakim'' born 31 October 1955) is a Franco-Lebanese organist, composer, and improviser. He studied the organ under Jean Langlais at the Conservatoire de Paris, a ...

until 1999. Jean Bonfils was also the organist at the

Grand Synagogue of Paris The Grand Synagogue of Paris (french: Grande Synagogue de Paris), generally known as Synagogue de la Victoire ( en, Synagogue of Victory) or Grande Synagogue de la Victoire ( en, Grand Synagogue of Victory), is situated at 44, Rue de la Victoire ...

from 1953 to 1997. Bonfils taught the organ at the

Schola Cantorum de Paris The Schola Cantorum de Paris is a private conservatory in Paris. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Bordes, Alexandre Guilmant and Vincent d'Indy as a counterbalance to the Paris Conservatoire's emphasis on opera. History La Schola was founded ...

from 1961 to 1973. With

Gaston Litaize Gaston Gilbert Litaize (11 August 1909 - 5 August 1991) was a French organist and composer. Considered one of the 20th century masters of the French organ, he toured, recorded, worked at churches, and taught students in and around Paris. Blind ...

, he directed the important series ''L'Organiste liturgique'' (1953-1967) at Éditions musicales of the Schola Cantorum and la Procure générale de Musique. Bonfils died in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine department) on 26 November 2007 at the age of 86.

Publications

*1969–1970: The first two ''Livres d'orgue'' by

Jacques Boyvin Jacques Boyvin (c. 1649 – 30 June 1706) was a French Baroque composer and organist. He was probably born in Paris, and studied there. One of his first jobs was that of organist of the Parisian church ''des Quinze-Vingts'', and in 1674 he was app ...

at Éditions Ouvrières *1963: The ''Second Livre d'orgue'' (1714) ''sur les Acclamations de la Paix tant désirée'', including 18 noëls, by

André Raison André Raison (c. 1640 – 1719) was a French Baroque composer and organist. During his lifetime he was one of the most famous French organists and an important influence on French organ music. He published two collections of organ works, in 16 ...

, at Éditions musicales de la Schola Cantorum et de la Procure Générale de musique *1964: The ''Livre d'orgue du Père Pingré : Anonymes français du XVIIIe siècle'', Paris, musical editions of the Schola Cantorum *1968: Transcription of ''Chansons françaises pour orgue'' (c. 1550) at (Le Pupitre) *1969–1970: The first two ''Livres d'orgue'' by

at Éditions Ouvrières *1974: A ''Livre d'orgue'' attributed to

Jean-Nicolas Geoffroy Jean-Nicolas Geoffroy (1633 – 11 March 1694) was a French harpsichordist, organist and composer.The registration of baroque organ music Barbara Owen - 1997 "Jean-Nicolas Geoffrey (fl. 1633-94)" His birthplace is unknown; he died in Perpigna ...

at Heugel *1981: with

Marcel Bitsch Marcel Bitsch (December 29, 1921, Paris – September 21, 2011, Toulouse) was a French composer, teacher and analyst. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris and also was professor of counterpoint there. Career In 1939, Marcel Bitsch entered t ...

and , ''La Fugue'', series "

Que sais-je ? "Que sais-je?" (QSJ) (; Literally: "What do I know?", ) is an editorial collection published by the Presses universitaires de France (PUF). The aim of the series is to provide the lay reader with an accessible introduction to a field of study w ...

", issue 1849, P.U.F In collaboration with Noëlie Pierront, Bonfils published: * The series ''Deo gloria: répertoire liturgique de l'organiste pour orgue sans pédale ou harmonium'' in ten volumes.''Répertoire liturgique de l'organiste : AVENT''
on La Procure * a ''Nouvelle méthode de clavier, orgue-positif, harmonium'', in 4 issues (1960-1963) * a ''Nouvelle méthode d'orgue'', in 2 issues (1962).

References

External links

Detailed biography by Denis Havard de la Montagne. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bonfils, Jean 1921 births 2007 deaths Musicians from Saint-Étienne Conservatoire de Paris alumni French classical organists French male organists Male classical composers 20th-century French musicologists French music educators 20th-century organists 20th-century French male musicians Male classical organists