André Marchal

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André Marchal (born February 6, 1894 in Paris , France , † August 27, 1980 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz , France) was a French organist and music teacher .

biography

education

André Marchal was born in Paris in 1894 as the son of the engineer Eugène Marchal and was blind from birth. In 1903, at the age of 9, he became a student of the National Institute for the Young Blind ( Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles ). In a comprehensive and systematic musical education, the special affinity to music that blind people can develop was promoted there. There he studied with Adolphe Marty (organ) and Albert Mahaut (theory of harmony / composition). At the age of 15 he and his father attended an organ concert by Charles-Marie Widor in St. Sulpice. He later mentioned this as an important personal "key experience". In 1911 he was accepted into the organ class of Eugène Gigout for postgraduate studies at the Paris Conservatory . He finished his studies in 1913 with an excellent “first prize for organ and improvisation”. He also completed his composition studies with Caussade in 1917 with a prize (counterpoint and fugue).

Organ artist and teacher

As a concert organist, Marchal appeared as a universally talented artist and quickly achieved a high level of awareness. He was both a competent interpreter of organ literature and a gifted organ improviser. At the Church of St-Augustin (Paris) he worked as an organ assistant to Professor Gigout, after which he became titular organist at the important parish churches of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1915–1945) and Saint-Eustache (1945–1963) in Paris . In 1919 he became an organ teacher for the blind at his former school, Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles. Until 1959 he was involved in the training of many talented musicians there.

Honors

André Marchal was awarded a Legion of Honor (Officier de la Légion d'honneur) in 1960 for his achievements as an organ virtuoso and music teacher , and in 1965 with an award for art and literature ( Officier des Arts et Lettres ).

swell

personal data
SURNAME Marchal, André
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French organist, improviser and organ teacher
DATE OF BIRTH February 6, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris , France
DATE OF DEATH August 27, 1980
Place of death Saint-Jean-de-Luz , France