Jean Langlais

de Ann Labounsky

"Jean-Lanlais (1907-1991) was one of the glories of twentieth-century French music. This biography by a scholar-organist examines both his life and his music. Although he denied it, he was an exceedingly complex and sometimes contradictory personality. He was both intensely religious and sensual, selfish yet humble, a loyal friend with a marked competitive streak. His music evolved throughout his life, including late experimentation with serial techniques and encoded messages. He wrote much music for the church and took part in the controversies surrounding the liturgical reforms of Vatican II.". "All these aspects of his life and art, including the rigorous training and arduous practice that transformed a blind peasant boy into a superb musician, his lifelong friendship with Olivier Messiaen, his sometimes turbulent family life, and the body of works he left - only J. S. Bach wrote more compositions for the organ - are narrated and analyzed by Ann Labounsky, who is uniquely qualified to write this definitive biography. A favorite Langlais pupil, she was asked by Langlais himself to write it and had his full cooperation for numerous long interviews over many years."--BOOK JACKET.