Michel Léon Chapuis () (15 January 1930 – 12 November 2017) was a French classical organist and

pedagogue Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken a ...

. He was especially known as an interpreter of the French and the German Baroque masters and dedicated to historically informed performances.

Biography

Chapuis was born in

Dole, Jura Dole (, sometimes pronounced ) is a commune in the Jura department, of which it is a subprefecture (''sous-préfecture''), in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in Eastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 23,711. History Dole was ...

, and had his early training there, on the organ of the Cathedral of Dole. In 1943, he studied the piano with Émile Poillot in

Dijon Dijon (, , ) (dated) * it, Digione * la, Diviō or * lmo, Digion is the prefecture of the Côte-d'Or department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in northeastern France. the commune had a population of 156,920. The earlies ...

. In 1945 came his first serious study of the organ with Jeanne Marguillard, organist of the

Besançon Cathedral Besançon Cathedral (french: Cathédrale Saint-Jean de Besançon) is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint John located in the city of Besançon, France. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Besançon. The cathedral consists of a large nave ...

. He then studied at the

École César Franck The École César-Franck (César Franck School, named after César Franck) was a music school founded in Paris in January 1935 by Guy de Lioncourt, Louis de Serres, Pierre de Bréville and Marcel Labey. It was produced by a split from the Schola Ca ...

in Paris under René Mahlherbe (composition) and

Édouard Souberbielle Jacques Auguste Édouard Souberbielle (17 June 1899 – 29 January 1986) was a 20th-century French organist, Kapellmeister and music educator. Biography Souberbielle first studied with his mother, a former pupil of Émile Delaborde, son of Cha ...

(organ). He had further studies with

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 ...

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 ...

and won prizes in organ and improvisation in 1951 (the Prix Périlhou et Guilmant). Chapuis was organist for the Paris churches of St Germain l'Auxerrois 1951-54 and St Nicolas des Champs 1954-72, accompanied at Notre Dame 1955-64, and was titular organist of St Séverin from 1964. He also toured widely as a concert artist. From 1956-79 he was Professor at the

Conservatoire de Strasbourg The Conservatoire de Strasbourg is a music conservatory located in Strasbourg, France. The school was created using funds given to the city of Strasbourg by arts patron Louis Apffel in 1839. The conservatoire's first day of classes began on 3 Janua ...

, 1979-86 at the Besançon Conservatoire, and 1986-95 at the Paris Conservatoire. From 1996-2010, he was organist at the Versailles Royal Chapel. During his lifetime, he performed every surviving piece of French organ music from the 17th and 18th centuries on the

Clicquot Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin () is a Champagne house founded in 1772 and based in Reims. It is one of the largest Champagne houses. Madame Clicquot is credited with major breakthroughs, creating the first known vintage champagne in 1810, and ...

organ of St Nicolas des Champs. He also produced numerous recordings matching early repertoire to historic instruments. His important recordings included the complete organ works of

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

(1966), considered by many as one of the best recordings of this oeuvre.Damian Thompson, "Bach's organ music: revealed at last"
''The Telegraph'', 1 March 2010 Chapuis died in Dole in 2017, aged 87.

References

Recordings

* 1963 : ''Messe à 8 voix et 8 Instruments'' H.3 de Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel Chapuis, organ, conducted by Trajan Popesco. LP A. Charlin. * 1966 - 1970 : Johan Sébastian Bach, complete works for organ. 14 CD United archives. * 1988: Du Mage, Clerembault: Premier Livre d'Orgue (Orgue Francois-Henri Clicquot de la Cathedral de Poitiers). Astrée. * 1997 : ''Messe pour le Port-Royal'' H.5 de

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'', ''Marche en rondeau''. This theme is still us ...

, Michel Chapuis, historical organ Louis-Alexandre Cliquot (Houdan 1735), Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr, conducted by Emmanuel Mandrin. CD Auvidis Astrée & Naïve 2007. * 2002 : ''Messe de Monsieur Mauroy'' H.6 de Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel Chapuis, great organ,

Le Concert Spirituel Le Concert Spirituel is a French ensemble specialising in works of baroque music, played on period instruments. Founded by Hervé Niquet in 1987, it is named after the 18th-century concert series Concert Spirituel. The group performs internation ...

, conducted by

Hervé Niquet Hervé Niquet (born 28 October 1957) is a French conductor, harpsichordist, tenor, and the director of Le Concert Spirituel, specializing in French Baroque music. Biography Born on 28 October 1957, Hervé Niquet was raised at Abbeville in the ...

. CD Glossa.

Sources

Bach Cantatas
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapuis, Michel 1930 births 2017 deaths People from Dole, Jura French classical organists French male organists Cathedral organists Conservatoire de Paris alumni French music educators 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century French male musicians Bach musicians Male classical organists