Martin Bacot

August 26, 2014 by Improviser

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/VJOrgue

Born in 1980, Martin Bacot studied piano with Christine Pagès and harmony with Jeanine Boutin at the Conservatoire National de Région de Versailles. Il has studied organ with Georges Robert, Eric Lebrun, Vincent Warnier, and Pierre Pincemaille.
Having earned his Premier Prix d’Interprétation from the CNR d’Angers, a premier Prix d’Improvisation à l’unanimité from the CNR de Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Martin Bacot has also won several improvisation competitions:
• Second prize in the Concours “Orgues sans frontières”, Sarrebrück in 2001
• First Prize in the Concours de Schwäbisch Gmünd in 2009
• Grand Prix André Marchal and Prix Englert in the Concours André Marchal in Biarritz in 2009
In 2010, he was a finalist in the Haarlem International Improvisation Competition.

From 1998 to 2010, he regularly replaced Pierre Pincemaille at the Cathédrale de Saint-Denis. In 2011 he became organist titulaire at the Église St Louis de la Guillotière in Lyon.

In addition to his musical studies, Martin Bacot studied architecture at the Ecole Supérieure d’Architecture in Versailles, earning his diploma in 2006. In addition to his concert activities, he works in Lyon as an architect specializing in the restoration of patrimony.

Videos:
Martin Bacot – Improvisation sur un texte biblique – Finale Concours André Marchal 2009
Martin Bacot – Improvisation sur un choral imposé – Concours André Marchal 2009
Martin Bacot – Improvisations in German Baroque Style – Haarlem Wallon church
Martin Bacot – Improvisation on Coventry Carol – Coventry Cathedral
Martin Bacot – Improvisation sur l’introÏt de l’Ascension ‘Viri Galilei’ – Cathédrale de Troyes

André Fleury

July 10, 2014 by Improviser

André Fleury (1903-1995) was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He received his musical training as a private student of Henri Letocart (a former student of César Franck), and later, of André Marchal and Louis Vierne. At the Paris Conservatory, he studied organ with Eugène Gigout and received a first prize in organ performance and improvisation under Gigout’s successor, Marcel Dupré, in 1926. Fleury also studied composition with Paul Vidal.

In 1920, Fleury became Gigout’s assistant at St. Augustin in Paris, and, later, also assistant of Charles Tournemire at Ste. Clotilde. He became titular organist at St. Augustin in 1930. In 1941, he was appointed professor of organ at the École Normale de Musique in Paris.

After World War II, Fleury relocated to Dijon. In 1949, he succeeded Émile Poillot as titular organist at Dijon Cathedral and as professor of piano (a year later also of organ) at the Dijon Conservatory. In 1971, he accepted Jean Guillou’s invitation to become co-titular organist at St. Eustache in Paris. He also was appointed as professor of organ at the Schola Cantorum and as titular organist at Versailles Cathedral.

As a composer, Fleury wrote numerous works for organ, many of which have not been published yet. He premiered several important organ compositions, such as the organ sonata of Darius Milhaud, Maurice Duruflé’s Scherzo op. 2, as well as La Nativité du Seigneur by Olivier Messiaen (the first integral performance of this organ cycle, after the premiere by Jean Langlais, Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur, and Jean-Jacques Grunenwald).

Among his students were Bernard Gavoty, Pierre Cochereau, and Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur.

Videos:
André Fleury – Improvisation-Demonstration of Dijon Cathedral – France

André Marchal

July 3, 2014 by Improviser

André Marchal (1894-1980) was born blind. He studied organ under Eugène Gigout at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1913, he won the First Prize in organ-playing and four years later he also won the prix d’excellence for fugue and counterpoint. Marchal taught organ at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris, in addition to serving as titular organist of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1915–1945) and Saint-Eustache (1945–1963). He was an unparalleled improviser and was recognized as such by Fauré. Among his students are many brilliant musicians such as Peter Hurford, Louis Thiry and Jean-Pierre Leguay.

There is now a Concours André Marchal held every other year in Biarritz, France offering prizes for interpretation and improvisation. Previous winners of the improvisation prizes include: David Cassan, David Maw, Noël Hazbroucq, Martin Bacot, Olivier Perin, Alexandre Mason, Torsten Laux, and Frederik Malmberg.

Videos:
André Marchal – Improvisation on theme of George Dyson – Royal Festival Hall, London

Jean Langlais

January 18, 2014 by Improviser

Website:
http://www.jeanlanglais.com
You can hear him on Spotify.

Jean Langlais (1907 – 1991) was sent to the Paris National Institute for the Young Blind in 1918 where he studied piano, violon, harmony and organ with great blind teachers including Albert Mahaut and Andre Marchal.
Later, he entered the Paris National Conservatory of Music in the organ class of Marcel Dupré, obtaining a First Prize in 1930. In 1931, he received the “Grand Prix d’Execution et Improvisation des Amis de l’Orgue”, after having studied improvisation with Charles Tournemire. He ended his studies with a Composition Prize in the class of Paul Dukas at the Paris Conservatory in 1934.
In 1945, he became the successor to Cesar Franck and Charles Tournemire at the prestigious organ tribune of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. He left that position in 1987 at the age of 80, having been titular for 42 years. Professor for forty years at the National Institute for the Young Blind, he also taught at the Paris Schola Cantorum where, between 1961 and 1976, he influenced both French and foreign students, including Naji Hakim and Ann Labounsky amongst many others.

Biographies:

Jean Langlais – The Man and His Music
by Ann Labounsky, Amadeus Press, 2000.