Joseph Antoine Émile Bourdon (; 14 February 1884 – 11 July 1974) 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 ...

and composer.

Biography

Bourdon was the son of Magdelaine Louise Villate de Peufeilhoux (of noble descent) and Victor-Louis-Gabriel Bourdon (a financier). Later, he became a pupil of Alexandre Guilmant in 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 ...

, Bourdon was a condisciple and friend 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 ...

. He was the organist of the great organ of the Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Monaco from 1922 to 1968, before canon

Henri Carol Canon Henri Carol (18 January 1910 – 23 September 1984) was a French organist, improviser, chef de chœur, composer, and pipe organ teacher. Career Born in Montpellier, Carol was a student at the Enclos Saint-François in Montpellier where ...

succeeded him. In addition, he was professor of organ at the Académie de Musique Fondation

Prince Rainier III Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was Prince of Monaco from 1949 to his death in 2005. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest-ruling m ...

until 1968. His wife Jeanne Barbezat passed away on 17 August 1974, and Bourdon himself died on 11 July of that year.

Works

Bourdon is the author of several pieces for pipe organ including: * ''Dix Pièces'' Op. 7 (Paris, Leduc, 1921) : *# ''Offertoire pour la Fête de l'Assomption'' *# ''Carillons'' (popularised by

) *# ''Méditation sur un Psaume d'Introït'' *# ''Sortie sur l'Hymne ''Veni Creator Spiritus *# ''Bénédiction nuptiale'' *# ''In memoriam'' *# ''Sur l'Alleluia de la Fête de saint Louis'' *# ''Légende pour la Toussaint'' *# ''Triptyque sur la Prose de la Fête-Dieu'' *# ''Toccata sur deux noëls'' * ''Six Pièces (1926)'' (Delatour, 2009) : *# ''Thème développé'' *# ''Final en Ré'' *# ''Complainte'' *# ''Communion sur'' "Dic nobis, Maria" ''de la prose de Pâques'' *# ''Allegro symphonique'' *# ''Elégie'' * ''Première symphonie'' Op.10 (Paris, Leduc, 1925) * ''Marche Solennelle'' Op. 19 (Paris, Bornemann, 1947) * ''Cortège Nuptial'' Op. 38, dedicated to H.R.H. Prince Rainier III and to Madame la Princesse Grace de Monaco, for the celebration of their marriage on 19 April 1956 (unpublished). Other: * ''Andantino religioso'' for organ and cello (or alto) * ''Tantum ergo'' for choir, organ and horn * ''Idylle'' for orchestra * ''Poème élégiaque'' for cello and orchestra * ''Trio en mi mineur'' for piano, violin and cello * Sacred motets.

Sources

Bourdon (1884-1974) organiste et compositeur, Louis Sauvé.
- preface by

Marie-Claire Alain Marie-Claire Geneviève Alain-Gommier (10 August 1926 – 26 February 2013) was a French organist, scholar and teacher best known for her prolific recording career, with 260 recordings, making her the most-recorded classical organist in the world ...

, Éditions De L'officine, 2004, 342 p. * Émile Bourdon, ''Six Pièces pour orgue''

External links

Amis de Marcel Dupré

Émile BOURDON
on Delatour France
Émile BOURDON (1884-1974), organiste et compositeur
l'Éducation musicale
''Méditation'', Émile Bourdon
on YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:Bourdon, Emile Conservatoire de Paris alumni Composers for pipe organ 20th-century classical composers French classical organists French male organists French classical composers French male classical composers 1884 births 1974 deaths People from Allier 20th-century organists 20th-century French composers 20th-century French male musicians Male classical organists