Joseph-Ermend Bonnal (1 July 1880 – 14 August 1944); also ''Ermend-Bonnal'', alias ''Guy Marylis'') was a French composer and organist. Ermend-Bonnal received initial musical instruction from his father, a violinist. He then studied piano at the Conservatoire de Paris under Charles-Wilfrid de Bériot, harmony under Antoine Taudou, composition under

Gabriel Fauré Gabriel Urbain Fauré (; 12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers ...

and

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

under Alexandre Guilmant and Louis Vierne. He also assisted Charles-Marie Widor at Saint-Sulpice,

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

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 ...

and Charles Tournemire at the

Basilica of St. Clotilde The Basilica of Saint Clotilde (''Basilique Ste-Clotilde'') is a Basilicas in the Catholic Church, basilica church (building), church in Paris, located on the Rue Las Cases, in the 7th arrondissement. It is best known for its twin spires. History ...

. In 1901, Ermend-Bonnal was appointed Organist at Saint-Médard, and subsequently at Notre Dame in Boulogne-sur-Seine. In 1920, he was offered a professorship in organ at the University of Strasbourg. However, he decided instead to accept a position as director of the Bayonne Conservatory, which he held until 1941. His most famous student was the composer

Maurice Ohana Maurice Ohana (12 June 1913 – 13 November 1992) was a French composer. Ohana's output includes choral works, string quartets, suites for ten-string guitar, a ''Tiento'' for six-string guitar, and operas. Life and career Ohana was born in Casab ...

. In 1942, he succeeded his teacher Tournemire at the Cavaillé-Coll Organ at

. The focus of Ermend-Bonnal's musical output is organ music (''Paysages Euskariens'', 1930; ''Media Vita'', organ symphony, 1932). However, he also wrote in all other musical genres, ranging from children's pieces for piano to symphonies. Of his chamber music, two string quartets and a string trio especially deserve mention. He also wrote Ragtimes, One Steps and

Tangos Tangos may refer to: * "Tangos" (song), a song popularized in Spain * Tangos (district), a district or barangay in Navotas, Philippines * ''Tangos'' (album), a 1973 album by Buenos Aires 8 * ''Tangos'' (Rubén Blades album), a 2014 album by Ru ...

under the pseudonym ''Guy Marylis''. Ermend-Bonnal had six Children. Children that are still living today are Marylis Raoul-Duval, the eldest; Mayette Bonnal, and Francoise Bonnal, the youngest. Palay, Rataboul are some of the successors today.

External links

* * Rollin Smith
Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Pendragon Press, 1999, p. 184
Site of the Ermend Bonnal Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonnal, Joseph Ermend 1880 births 1944 deaths Musicians from Bordeaux Conservatoire de Paris alumni French classical organists French male organists French classical composers French male classical composers Composers for pipe organ Organ improvisers 20th-century classical composers 20th-century organists 20th-century French composers 20th-century French male musicians Male classical organists