Olivier Georges Alain (3 August 1918 – 28 February 1994) was a French
organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...
,
pianist
A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...
,
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 mu ...
and
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 ...
.
Life
Alain was born in
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris.
Inhabitants are called ''Saint-Germanois'' or ''Saint-Ge ...
, near
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, into a musical family. His father was the organist and composer
Albert Alain
Albert Paul Alain (1 March 1880 – 15 October 1971) was a 20th-century French organist and composer.
Biography
Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Clarisse-Alphonsine Fouquet (born 1859) and Paul François Alain (born 1851), he entered in adult ...
(1880–1971), as well as his elder brother
Jehan Alain
Jehan-Aristide Paul Alain (; 3 February 1911 – 20 June 1940) was a French organist, composer, and soldier. Born into a family of musicians, he learned the organ from his father and a host of other teachers, becoming a composer at 18, and compo ...
(1911–1940), and his younger sister, French organist
Marie-Claire Marie-Claire is a given name. It is a combination of the names Marie and Claire, which are both of French origin. It may refer to:
*Marie-Claire Alain (1926–2013), organist and organ teacher
* Marie-Claire Baldenweg (born 1954), contemporary art ...
(1926–2013). He studied at the
Paris Conservatory
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 received first prizes in composition (1951, class of
Tony Aubin
Tony Louis Alexandre Aubin (8 December 1907 – 21 September 1981) was a French composer.
Career
Aubin was born in Paris. From 1925 to 1930, he studied at the Paris Conservatory under Samuel Rousseau (composer), Samuel Rousseau (music theory), ...
) and musical analysis (1950, class of
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...
).
In 1950, he became director of the conservatory in
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris.
Inhabitants are called ''Saint-Germanois'' or ''Saint-Ge ...
, where he worked until 1964. From 1960-1974, he served as director of 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, and in 1976 founded the Conservatoire National de Région in Paris, whose director he was until 1985, and where he taught classes in musical analysis and chamber music. His notable students include composers
Alain Gagnon
Alain Gagnon (22 May 1938 − 26 March 2017) was a Canadian composer and music educator based in Laval, Quebec. His compositions have been performed by ensembles throughout Canada.
Early life and education
Gagnon was born in Trois-Pistoles, Queb ...
.
Alain's catalog of musical compositions contains almost 170 compositions of various genres, most of which are still unpublished. He also published a book on harmony (Paris, 1965) and a monograph on
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 w ...
(Paris, 1970). His comprehensive chronology and analysis of the life and complete works of J. S. Bach is still unpublished. His discovery of the 14 Canons on the first 8 fundamental notes of the aria from the Goldberg Variations (BWV 1087) in
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
in 1974 is often regarded as one of the greatest Bach-source finds of the 20th century.
He died in 1994 in
Férolles-Attilly
Férolles-Attilly () is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.
Demographics
Inhabitants of Férolles-Attilly are called ''Férollais''.
See also
*Communes of the Seine-et-Marne departmen ...
.
Register of deceased person
/ref>
Compositions
Organ solo
* ''Chanson de la brume en mer'' op. 64 (1940. Ligugé: Éditions Europart)
* ''Suite'' op. 135 (1951. Paris: Leduc)
* ''Lacrymae'' op. 150 (1957. Paris: Éditions Schola Cantorum)
* ''Prélude-Introït-Récitatif'' op. 158 (1959: Paris: Éditions Schola Cantorum)
* ''Offertoire-Fantaisie'' op. 160 (1961: Paris: Éditions Schola Cantorum)
* ''Récit pour l'Élévation'' op. 161 (1962: Paris: Éditions Schola Cantorum)
* ''Microludes'' op. 166 (1981. Ligugé: Éditions Europart)
Chamber music
* ''Dithyrambe'' op. 18 for Oboe and Piano or Trumpet, Flute and Organ (1936. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Sicilienne'' op. 24 for Piano, Flute and Organ (1937. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Divertissement (nocturne)'' op. 73 for Flute and Piano or Organ (1942. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Ritournelle'' op. 74 for Oboe and Piano or Flute, Violin and Organ (1943. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Suite'' op. 98 for Violin and Piano (1945-47. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''String Quartet'' op. 123 (1949. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Aventure'' op. 144 for Flute and Organ (1953. Paris: Salabert)
* ''Suite française: Suite pour Rameau'' op. 163 for Trumpet and Organ or Flute and Organ (1964. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Ballade'' op. 163b for Piano and Organ (1948. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Songe ou Souvenances (Mneïa)'' op. 164 for Oboe and Organ or Flute and Organ (1973. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Threnos (Deuils)'' op. 167 for Piano and Organ (1982. Sampzon: Édition Delatour France)
* 12 more unpublished chamber music works
Choral works
* ''Lucis Creator optimae'' op. 55 for Choir and Organ (1939. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Petrus quidem'' op. 76 for Choir a capella (1943. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Jesu, dulcis amor meus'' op. 77 for Choir, Soloists and Organ (1943. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Noël: Allons, ma voisine'' op. 78 for Choir a capella (1943. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''Cibavit eos'' op. 88 for Choir a capella (1944. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''3 Repons du Vendredi Saint'' op. 136-138 for Choir a capella (1951. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''3 Repons du Jeudi Saint'' op. 139-141 for Choir a capella (1952. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* ''3 Déplorations: Repons du Samedi Saint'' op. 145-147 for voice and keyboard (1954. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* 15 more unpublished choral compositions
Piano solo
* ''Intermezzo'' op. 162 (1964. Paris: Éditions Choudens)
* 47 more unpublished piano compositions
Two pianos
* ''Première Ballade'' op. 69 in E minor (1942, unpublished)
* ''Deuxième Ballade'' op. 75 in A-flat major (1943, unpublished)
* ''4 Danses'' op. 112 (1948, unpublished)
* ''5 Pièces'' op. 112a (1948, unpublished)
Voice and piano
* ''Stances du Banquet'' (Sponde) op. 79 (1944. Sampzon: Éditions Delatour France)
* 41 more unpublished works for voice and piano
Miscellaneous works
* ''Tristan'' op. 89. Ballet music in twelve scenes (1945, unpublished)
* ''La Samaritaine'' op. 90. Stage Music in five scenes for Oboe, Harp and Strings (1945, unpublished)
* ''Symphonie Argentière'' op. 124 for orchestra (1949, unpublished)
* ''Chant funèbre pour les morts en montagne'' op. 133. Oratorio in twelve scenes for soloists, choir and orchestra (1950, unpublished)
* ''L'Athlète aux mains nues'' op. 134. Music for a film by Daniel Rops (1950, unpublished)
* ''Henri IV'' op. 142. Film music (1952, unpublished)
* ''Fantaisies pour le CNR Nos. 1 et 2'' op. 165 for various instruments (1977. Sampzon: Édition Delatour France)
* ''Odoï'' op. 168 for orchestra (1983, unpublished)
Bibliography
* Alain, Marie-Claire (2008): "Hommage à Olivier Alain." In ''Association Maurice & Marie-Madeleine Duruflé: Bulletin'' Nos. 7-8 (2007–2008): 99-101.
* Alain, Olivier (1951): "L'œuvre pour piano de Jehan Alain." In ''Le Conservatoire'' 14 (January 1951): 59-62.
* Alain, Olivier (1951): "Le Reqiem de Maurice Duruflé." In ''Le Conservatoire'' 14 (January 1951): 62-64.
* Alain, Olivier (1956): "Maurice Duruflé, Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris." In ''Le Figaro'', 1124 (December 1956).
* Decourt, Aurélie (2008): "Olivier Alain: Un artiste déchiré entre ses passions." In ''Association Maurice & Marie-Madeleine Duruflé: Bulletin'' Nos. 7-8 (2007–2008): 106-111.
* Guillard, Georges (2008): "Olivier Alain: Passeur et accoucheur de musiciens." In ''Association Maurice & Marie-Madeleine Duruflé: Bulletin'' Nos. 7-8 (2007–2008): 102-105.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alain, Olivier
1918 births
1994 deaths
20th-century classical composers
20th-century French male classical pianists
20th-century French composers
20th-century French conductors (music)
20th-century French musicologists
20th-century organists
Composers for pipe organ
Conservatoire de Paris alumni
French choral conductors
French classical composers
French classical organists
French composers of sacred music
French male classical composers
French male conductors (music)
French male organists
People from Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Male classical organists