Albert Alain


Albert Paul Alain was a 20th-century French organist and composer.

Biography

Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Albert Paul Alain entered late in the Conservatoire de Paris and obtained a first prize for harmony in 1904. He pursued counterpoint studies with Georges Caussade, fugue and music composition with Charles Lenepveu and Gabriel Fauré, at the same time as he worked on the organ with Guilmant and Louis Vierne. In 1924, succeeding Albert Renaud, he became organist of the church of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a position he held until his death.
Passionate about organ building, he built over the years an instrument with 4 keyboards and 43 stops in his house. This organ is now installed in Romainmôtier, Switzerland.
He married Magdeleine Alberty in 1910, and they became parents of four children with exceptional gifts: Jehan, Marie-Odile, Olivier and Marie-Claire.

Works

As a composer of religious music, he is responsible for 469 pieces, among others:

Organ and harmonium