Felix Moreau

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Félix Moreau (born September 8, 1922 in Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine ; died February 24, 2019 ) was a French organist.

Life

Moreau grew up as the son of an organist, and was introduced to the organ at the age of 5. He took up his musical training in Nantes, his teacher was Marcel Courtonne , a pupil of Vincent d'Indy s and Louis' Vierne s. He studied Latin, Greek, philosophy and theology and completed his music studies in Paris in 1948. His teachers were Marcel Dupré , André Fleury and Maurice Duruflé for harmony, counterpoint, fugue, composition, interpretation and improvisation.

After the death of his teacher Marcel Courtonne - the titular organist of the great organ in Nantes Cathedral - he followed him to the position of organist in 1954 and held this position until 2013. He remained honorary titular organist until his death. He also became a professor of musical writing and organ at the National Conservatory of the Région d'Angers and taught for 18 years at the "École Nationale de Musique" in Saint Nazaire .

Moreau was Honorary President of the Association of Liturgical Organists of France ('Association des Organistes Liturgiques de France). In 1979 he received the "Chevalier des Arts et Lettres" award.

He was a prize winner for composition ("Prix Laffont", 1954, 1st National Prize for Sacred Music, 1956). He composed numerous vocal works (masses, psalms, motets, etc.) as well as several organ pieces. His style was influenced by Olivier Messiaen , serial and twelve-tone music , but also Gregorian chant . Moreau wrote transcriptions of several works by Johann Sebastian Bach (including Preludium of the 1st Sonata for Viola in D minor).

Moreau gave organ concerts all over France and abroad (including Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, North America). He also appeared at important music festivals (Steinfeld, Markendelfield, Säckingen, Lausanne, Renaissance de l'Orgue à Bordeaux, Marienthal, Strasbourg).

In 1971 he published the book "Le grand Orgue de la Cathédrale de Nantes" and wrote articles for "l'Organiste", "Musique Sacrée" and "l'Orgue". He received several invitations to Notre-Dame de Paris (from Pierre Cochereau ) and inaugurated more than 100 organs. His repertoire included the symphonic literature of French composers ( César Franck , Louis Vierne , Maurice Duruflé , Olivier Messiaen , Jehan Alain ), whom he - like Bach - greatly admired.

He recorded several CDs: "Trois Chorals" (Cavaillé-Coll, Cathédrale de Luçon), "Noëls Français" (Cathédrale de Nantes) and "French Music of the 17th and 18th centuries" (Cathédrale de Nantes).

Organ works (selection)

  • Fuguette, 1945
  • Noël vendéen, 1947
  • Fantaisie, 1957
  • Suite Modale, 1957
  • Incarnation, 1961
  • Genèse, 1973
  • Fantaisie-Paraphrase pour la Fete de tous les Saints, 1974
  • Hymnal, 1988
  • Toccata "Cri d'Espoir", 1992
  • Prelude à l'Introït pour la fête de la Pentecôte, 1994
  • Ave Verum, Adorote et Ubi Caritas, 2001
  • Stèle pour le Tombeau de Duruflé, 2004

Other works

  • Légende d'Herbauges, 1947
  • Berceuse à Bénédicte
  • Fair en l'honneur de Sainte Madeleine
  • Trois motets, 1952-1955
  • Messe du Christ Rédempteur, 1955
  • Pueri Hebraeorum, 1956
  • Psalm "In Te Domine speravi", 1961
  • Pour guider nos pas, 1968
  • Le Pain du Ciel nous est donné, 1969
  • Petite pastorale de printemps, 1972
  • Fair pour les Saints Evêques de Nantes, 1975
  • Psalm LXXXIII "Quam dilecta tabernacula tua", 1985
  • L'hymne à la Parole, 1986
  • Eglise de ce temps, 1995
  • Ubi Caritas

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Félix MOREAU | AGOC. Retrieved July 14, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Nantes. L'organiste Félix Moreau est mort. Retrieved July 14, 2020 (French).
  3. ↑ a b c Félix Moreau. Retrieved July 14, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Moreau, Felix
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French organist
DATE OF BIRTH September 8, 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH Aigrefeuille-sur-Maine
DATE OF DEATH February 24, 2019