Alexandre Guilmant

Short bio Alexandre Guilmant

Birthday: 1837 in Meudon, France

Died: 1911 in Meudon, France

Active: 1890s - 1900s

Genre: Classical

Period: Romantic

Full biography Alexandre Guilmant

Alexandre Guilmant was a French composer and organist who lived from March 12, 1837, to March 29, 1911. He is known for being a significant figure in the French Romantic Organ School and for his contributions to organ music. Guilmant was born in Meudon, a suburb of Paris, and showed an early talent for music. He received his first music lessons from his mother, and by the age of 12, he was studying under some of the leading organists of the day, including Franck and Benoist.

Guilmant's early career was focused on his role as an organist. He held several positions at different churches throughout his lifetime, with his most notable position being the organist at La Trinité in Paris, which he held from 1871 until his death. In addition to performing, Guilmant was also an accomplished composer. He wrote several works for solo organ, orchestra, and chamber groups, as well as vocal music.

One of Guilmant's most significant contributions to the world of music was his writing on organ technique. He wrote several books on the subject, and his work had a significant impact on the development of organ playing technique in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Although Guilmant was well-known and highly regarded during his lifetime, his music fell out of favor in the decades following his death. However, in recent years, there has been renewed interest in his work, and musicians and scholars have reevaluated his contributions to the world of music. Today, Guilmant is recognized as an important figure in the world of organ music and a notable composer of the French Romantic period.

Compositions featuring Alexandre Guilmant

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Fugue grave, for harmonium	4:02 min	Keyboard	1903
2	Impression grégorienne, for organ	4:39 min	Keyboard	1902
3	Pieces nouvelles (18) for organ, No. 5, Deuxième March Nuptiale in F sharp major, Op. 90/5	2:11 min	Keyboard	1902
4	Creator Alme Siderum, offertory for organ, Op. 65/23	4:45 min	Keyboard	1888
5	Légende et Finale Symphonique, for organ, Op. 71	10:18 min	Keyboard	1888
6	Postlude Nuptiale, for organ in B flat major, Op. 69/2 (Pieces in different styles, Book 13, No. 2)	5:34 min	Keyboard	1888
7	Symphonie-Cantate, for chorus & organ (or solo organ or piano & harmonium) "Ariane", Op. 53	16:18 min	Choral	1879
8	Communion sur "Ecce panis angelorum", for organ in G major (L’Organiste Pratique, Book 12)	5:40 min	Keyboard	1878
9	Cœur de Jésus enfant, for soprano or tenor, chorus ad lib & organ	5:24 min	Vocal Music	1876
10	Adoration, for organ & strings, Op. 44/1	6:44 min	Concerto	1875
11	Marche de procession, for organ in F major, Op. 44/3	8:10 min	Keyboard	1875
12	Sonata (Symphony) for organ No. 1 in D minor, Op. 42	23:35 min	Keyboard	1874
13	Élégie fugue, for organ in F minor, Op. 44/2	6:49 min	Keyboard	1874
14	Ce que dit le silence, for voice & piano	3:13 min	Vocal Music	1873
15	Mazurka de salon, for harmonium in F minor, Op. 35	4:00 min	Keyboard	1873
16	Melody for organ in G major (also version for violin & orchestra), Op. 46/4	2:51 min	Keyboard	1873
17	Aspiration religieuse, for harmonium in D major, Op. 30	4:57 min	Keyboard	1872
18	Canzonetta, for harmonium in F major, Op. 28	3:28 min	Keyboard	1871
19	Fughetta, for harmonium in A minor, Op. 29	2:17 min	Keyboard	1871
20	Villageoise (Bluette), for harmonium in C major, Op. 32	3:48 min	Keyboard	1871
21	March Nuptiale, for organ in E major, Op. 25/1 (Pieces in different styles, Book 8, No. 1)	8:24 min	Keyboard	1870
22	Pastorale for harmonium & piano (or contra bass & harmonium or solo organ) in A major, Op. 26	3:51 min	Keyboard	1870
23	Recueillement, for harmonium, Op. 23/1	5:56 min	Keyboard	1870
24	Valse, for harmonium, Op. 23/2	3:52 min	Keyboard	1870
25	Marche funèbre et chant séraphique (Funeral March and Seraphic Song), for organ, Op. 17/3	10:54 min	Keyboard	1868
26	Caprice for organ in B flat major, Op. 20/3	5:45 min	Keyboard	1862
27	Organ Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 50	17:39 min	Keyboard	1862
28	March on Handel's "Lift Up Your Heads," for organ in F major, Op. 15/2	6:38 min	Keyboard	1861
29	Meditation for organ No. 1 in A major, Op. 20/1	10:30 min	Keyboard	1861
30	Allegretto for organ in B minor, Op. 19/1	5:04 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
31	Allegro for organ & orchestra, Op. 81	4:05 min	Concerto	-
32	Allegro for organ in F sharp minor, Op. 18/2 (Pieces in different styles, Book 4, No. 2,)	3:59 min	Keyboard	-
33	Andante con moto, for organ ("À A. Cavaillé-Coll")	8:25 min	Keyboard	-
34	Arrangement of Bach's Concerto HWV 309 in D minor, for organ	14:24 min	Keyboard	-
35	Arrangement of Bach's Gottes Zeit (BWV 106), for organ		Keyboard	-
36	Ave Maria, for voice & organ or piano (adapted from Andante con moto, Op. 16/1)	2:06 min	Vocal Music	-
37	Ave verum corpus (Freiburger Chorbuch, 11)	3:02 min	Choral	-
38	Cantabilé, for organ	3:21 min	Keyboard	-
39	Cantilena, for organ, Op. 69	6:11 min	Keyboard	-
40	Cantilène Pastorale, for organ in B minor, Op. 15/3	5:40 min	Keyboard	-
41	Canzona for Organ, B2466 (Second of Four Pieces Making Up the Tenth Book-Op. 40. )	3:33 min	Keyboard	-
42	Choral for organ, Op. 49/3	3:57 min	Keyboard	-
43	Choral prelude for organ "Valet will ich dir gehen"	1:36 min	Keyboard	-
44	Chorale (Kirchenordnung Braunschweig) for trombone & organ	2:16 min	Chamber Music	-
45	Communion for organ in E minor, Op. 39/5	1:34 min	Keyboard	-
46	Communion No 1	3:42 min	Choral	-
47	Deuxième Offertoire sur des Noëls, for organ in D major, Op. 33/2	6:32 min	Keyboard	-
48	Ecce Panis, for chorus & organ, Op. 66	5:23 min	Choral	-
49	Elevation sur le Noel carcassonnais, for organ	3:05 min	Keyboard	-
50	Fantaisie Sur Deux Mélodies Anglaises	9:05 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
51	Fantasy for organ on 2 English Melodies (Home, Sweet Home & Rule, Britannia) , Op. 43	8:52 min	Keyboard	-
52	Final for organ & orchestra "alla Schumannn sur un Noël Languedocien," Op. 83	3:43 min	Concerto	-
53	Final for organ in E flat	7:21 min	Keyboard	-
54	Final, for organ, Op. 40/4 (Pieces in different styles, Book 10, No. 4)	6:44 min	Keyboard	-
55	Fughetta de Concert, for organ, Op. 29b	3:02 min	Keyboard	-
56	Fugue for organ in D major	4:29 min	Keyboard	-
57	Fugue, for organ in F major, Op. 72/2	5:01 min	Keyboard	-
58	Fugue, for organ in F minor, Op. 75/3	3:13 min	Keyboard	-
59	Grand Choeur "Alla Handel," for organ in D major, Op. 18/1 (Pieces in different styles, Book 4, No. 1)	7:09 min	Keyboard	-
60	Grand Choeur in G minor, Op. 84	6:09 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
61	Grand Choeur Triomphale for organ, Op. 47/2	5:39 min	Chamber Music	-
62	Grand Triumphal Chorus	6:09 min	Choral	-
63	Intermezzo for organ	4:03 min	Keyboard	-
64	Introduction & variations sur un ancien noël polonais, for organ	4:06 min	Keyboard	-
65	Invocation for organ in B flat	3:24 min	Keyboard	-
66	L'organiste liturgiste, Op. 65		Keyboard	-
67	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 1, Op. 39		Keyboard	-
68	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 2, Op. 41		Keyboard	-
69	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 5, Op. 49		Keyboard	-
70	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 6, Op. 50		Keyboard	-
71	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 7, Op. 52		Keyboard	-
72	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 8, Op. 55		Keyboard	-
73	L'Organiste Pratique, Book 12, Op. 59		Keyboard	-
74	Lamentation in D minor, for organ, Op. 45/1	11:19 min	Keyboard	-
75	Larghetto, for organ	3:03 min	Keyboard	-
76	March for organ in F major, Op. 46/5	6:27 min	Keyboard	-
77	March Rinale and Fugue on a Theme from Handel's "Messiah" for organ	6:26 min	Keyboard	-
78	Marche aux flambeaux, for organ	9:31 min	Keyboard	-
79	Marche Elégiaque for organ & orchestra in C minor, Op. 74/1	7:07 min	Chamber Music	-
80	Marche Religieuse, for organ (after a theme by Handel)	6:15 min	Keyboard	-
81	Marche triomphale, for piano & harmonium in E flat major, Op. 34	4:48 min	Keyboard	-
82	Marche-Fantaisie on Church Songs, for organ, 2 harps & orchestra, Op. 44/3	8:43 min	Concerto	-
83	Meditation		Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
84	Meditation for organ No. 2, Op. 20/2	4:16 min	Keyboard	-
85	Meditation on the Stabat Mater, for organ & orchestra, Op. 63	7:49 min	Concerto	-
86	Melody for organ in A flat major, Op. 17/4, B2542 (from Pieces in Different Styles, Book 3)	3:11 min	Keyboard	-
87	Morceau de Concert, for organ, Op. 24 (Pieces indifferent styles, Book 7)	18:02 min	Keyboard	-
88	Morceau Symphonique, for organ, Op. 75/2	5:32 min	Keyboard	-
89	Morceau Symphonique, for trombone & orchestra, Op. 88	7:03 min	Concerto	-
90	Motets (12) for voice & organ, Op. 14		Vocal Music	-
91	Noël brabançon dans le style de Haydn, for organ	3:28 min	Keyboard	-
92	Noël Elevation, for organ (L'Organiste Pratique Book 4, No. 6)	2:34 min	Keyboard	-
93	Noël languedocien: D' où viens-tu bergère, d' où viens-tu?, for organ	3:53 min	Keyboard	-
94	Noël polonais, for organ	3:09 min	Keyboard	-
95	Noël Polonaise for organ, Op. 60/1	3:46 min	Keyboard	-
96	Noël écossais, for organ	2:45 min	Keyboard	-
97	Noël: Joseph est bien mari	3:37 min	Keyboard	-
98	Noël: Or nous dites Marie (Nous voici dans la ville), for organ	2:06 min	Keyboard	-
99	Offertoire sur des noëls, for organ, Op. 39/6 (L'Organiste pratique, Vol. 1)	5:31 min	Keyboard	-
100	Offertoire sur deux noëls	7:28 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
101	Offertoire, for organ Op. 75/4	4:26 min	Keyboard	-
102	Offertory No 4 on the carol "Nuit sombre ton ombre vaut les plus beaux jours," for organ, Op. 60	8:11 min	Keyboard	-
103	Offertory on "O Filii" for organ, Op. 49/2	6:33 min	Choral	-
104	Organ Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 56	13:24 min	Keyboard	-
105	Organ Sonata No. 4 in D minor, Op. 61	19:27 min	Keyboard	-
106	Organ Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 80	29:38 min	Keyboard	-
107	Organ Sonata No. 6 in B major, Op. 86	23:06 min	Keyboard	-
108	Organ Sonata No. 7 in F major, Op. 89	31:20 min	Keyboard	-
109	Organ Sonata No. 8 in A major, Op. 91	35:10 min	Keyboard	-
110	Paraphrase on "See the Conquering Hero Comes" for organ, Op. 90/16	3:59 min	Keyboard	-
111	Pastorale	3:36 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
112	Pieces in different styles, for organ, Book 4, Op. 18		Keyboard	-
113	Pièce Caractéristique, for organ Op. 75/1	6:32 min	Keyboard	-
114	Pièces Nouvelles (18) for organ, Op. 90	4:14 min	Keyboard	-
115	Prayer for organ in F major, Op. 16/2	5:18 min	Keyboard	-
116	Prelude for organ in F major	2:20 min	Keyboard	-
117	Prière et Berceuse, for organ, Op. 27	4:15 min	Keyboard	-
118	Prière for organ in A flat major (L'Organiste Pratique, Book 9), Op. 56/3	3:00 min	Keyboard	-
119	Processional March, for organ, Op. 41/5	2:46 min	Keyboard	-
120	Pétit Piéces (6) pour piano réunies, Op. 47		Keyboard	-
121	Scherzo capriccioso, for harmonium & piano in F sharp minor, Op. 36	7:23 min	Keyboard	-
122	Scherzo for harmonium, Op. 31	4:56 min	Keyboard	-
123	Scherzo symphonique in C major, for organ, Op. 55/2	7:20 min	Keyboard	-
124	Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe du, Noël Alsacien for organ, Op. 93/4	4:22 min	Keyboard	-
125	Symphony No. 2 for organ & orchestra, in A major, Op. 91	30:54 min	Orchestral	-
126	Verset-Fantaisie, for organ in F major, Op. 19/5 (Pieces in different styles, Book 5, No. 5)	2:43 min	Keyboard	-
127	Was Gott thut, das ist wohlgethan, Choral, Op. 93/1	8:52 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-

Albums featuring Alexandre Guilmant

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Guilmant, Vierne, Gigout, David M. Patrick – Guilman, Vierne, Gigout(CD, Album)	2018	Guild
2	Simon Preston – Variations On America: Organ Spectacular	2017	Argo (2)
3	Boëllmann, Bonnet, Dubois, Gigout, Guilmant, Pierné, Saint-Saëns, Widor - Ben Van Oosten – A Festival Of French Organ Music(CD, Album)	2011	MDG
4	Bach, Franck, Guilmant, Mendelssohn, Sjöblom, Matteus Symfoniorkester, Gunnar Julin – Bach / Franck / Guilmant / Mendelssohn / Sjöblom(CD, Album)	2006	Not On Label
5	Leopold Mozart, Johann Michael Haydn, Gouinguené • Guilmant - Armin Rosin, Wiener Kammerorchester, Philippe Entremont – Trombone Concertos(CD, Album)	2004	Apex
6	Kristiaan Seynhave, Guilmant, Vierne, Dupré – à L'Orgue Van Den Heuvel Du Victoria - Hall De Genève(CD, )	2004	Fuga Libera
7	Liszt, Vierne, Guilmant, Rheinberger - Felix Hell – Organ Sensation(CD, HDCD)	2003	Reference Recordings
8	Rinck, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Saint-Saëns, Guilmant - Nicolas Kynaston – Klais Organ Abtei Himmerod(CD, Album)	2001	Ifo
9	Guilmant, Widor, Franck, Ian Tracey, Yan Pascal Tortelier, BBC Philharmonic – Organ Works(CD, )	2000	Chandos
10	Gerard Brooks / Boëly, Guilmant, Philip, Debussy, Nibelle – Gerard Brooks Plays The Organ Of St. Pierre, Douai, France(CD, Album)	1999	Priory
11	Bach, Reger, Mendelssohn, Guilmant, Saint-Saëns, Dupré − Alex Hug – Alex Hug An Der Fraumünsterorgel Zürich(CD, )	1996	Not On Label
12	Poulenc, Widor, Guilmant - Ian Tracey, BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier – Guilmant/Widor/Poulenc: Organ Concertos	1994	Chandos
13	Catherine Ennis, Guilmant – Sonata No.1 In D Minor · Sonata No.5 In C Minor · March On Handel's 'Lift Up Your Heads' · Scherzo Symphonique · Grand Choeur In D(CD, )	1989	EMI
14	Michael Schönheit, Bach, Schumann, Mendelssohn Und Guilmant – Die Schukeorgel Im Neuen Gewandhaus Zu Leipzig	1988	ETERNA
15	Guilmant, Karg-Elert, Dupré - Jane Watts – Great European Organs No. 7: Jane Watts Plays The Organ Of Westminster Abbey(CD, Album)	1988	Priory
16	Abbie Conant, Klemens Schnorr / Cesare, Händel, Krebs, Marcello, Guilmant, Helmschrott, Ives – Posaune Und Orgel • Trombone And Organ - Die Orgel Der Wallfahrtskirche Maria Eich = The Organ Of The Maria Eich Pilgrim's Church	1987	Audite
17	Olsson, Sjögren, Guilmant, Rune Engsö – Olsson Sjögren Guilmant(LP)	1983	Opus 3 (2)
18	Bach, Daquin, Widor, Franck, Vierne, Guilmant, Patrice Caire – Patrice Caire Aux Orgues de St Cyr Au Mont D’Or (Oeuvres De: Bach Daquin Widor Franck Vierne Guilmant)(LP, Stereo)	1980	Lugduvox
19	Guilmant - Francis Jackson – Plays Music By Guilmant - York Minster Organ(LP)	1978	Abbey
20	Frescobaldi • Buxtehude • Cesare • Krebs • Krol • Guilmant - Armin Rosin & Edgar Krapp – Posaune & Orgel • Trombone & Organ • Trombone & Orgue(LP, Album, Stereo)	1977	Telefunken
21	Guilmant, Dupré, Bram Beekman – Eerste Sonate / Tweede Symphonie(LP)	1975	Eurosound
22	Feike Asma, Widor / Franck / Guilmant – Feike Asma Speelt Romantische Orgelwerken(LP, 10", Mono)	-	CID (2)
23	Richard Ellsasser, Reubke, Guilmant – Sonata On The 94th Psalm / Sonata No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 42(LP, Album, Mono)	-	Parlophone
24	Bach, Veracini, Rheinberger, Reger, Guilmant, Martin Weyer, Martin Stief, Markus Götzinger – Die Orgeln Des Klosters Haina(LP)	-	Mitra Digital
25	Guilmant / Bruckner - Erwin Horn – Die Orgeln Der Basilika Waldsassen(LP, Stereo)	-	Mitra
26	Guilmant, Saint-Saëns, Pierné, Tournemire, De Saint-Martin, Dupré - Suzanne Chaisemartin – Recital At The Great Organ Of The American Cathedral In Paris = Récital Aux Grandes Orgues De La Cathédrale Américaine De Paris(CD, )	-	Festivo (2)