Jean Langlais - The Man and His Music (Hardcover)
by Ann Labounsky

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Book Summary Information

• Published by Amadeus Press 394 Pages
• The Man and His Music by Ann Labounsky foreword by Allen Hobbs
• Composer: Jean Langlais Author: Ann Labounsky

Book Reviews of Jean Langlais - The Man and His Music (Hardcover)

Book Review: Great portrait of a great composer
Summary: 5 Stars

The book is brilliantly laid out. Taking as a frame narrative the composer's life story itself, Labounsky charts his progress as a musician from first lessons with various teachers at the French Institution for the Blind to his further education at the Paris Conservatoire, under Paul Dukas and Marcel Dupre and alongside some equally celebrated names (including Olivier Messiaen and Jehain Alain). It focusses in great depth on Sainte Clothilde, his lodestar, where he worked with Charles Tournemire, succeeding as director of music and holding the post for over forty years. It continues with tales of his work in America, his two marriages, children and grandchildren, his late-life heart problems and the obvious effect on his career, right up to his death and commemoration, before finishing with a complete list of works and some interesting notes on his teaching method, quoted from one of his own treatises.

Tied neatly in with this historical account is a description of Langlais' developing musical style- with each passing event, Labounsky provides a guide to the principal works composed at the time, showing how the music was affected by what happened and where, in addition to describing the essential features of the music itself.

Some surprising details of Langlais' life are revealed- for instance, his reputation as something of a ladies' man (he was attracted to women depite being married, and often gained inspiration for new works from his relationships with pupils, friends and acquaintances) may shock those who have thus far only seen him as an austere, mystical and religious figure, characteristic of his music. Fundamentally, we learn from this book that Langlais was as human as any of us, musicians and otherwise, and it makes his life seem all the more rich and poignant for knowing how he lived it and what it brought him.

This is a great book, an indispensable guide for any who wish to explore Langlais and his music in more detail than is provided by CD notes and concert programmes. Even having read only a little, I am already finding myself engrossed, enthralled and moved by it...

Summary of Jean Langlais - The Man and His Music (Hardcover)

Born in great poverty in rural Brittany, he came to Paris and studied first at the National Institute for the Blind and then at the Paris Conservatory, where he took a first prize in Marcel Dupré�s organ class. From his very first published works, Langlais became known as an important composer particularly for organ: he may be considered the culmination of the French post-Romantic school of Widor, Vierne, and Dupré, to which he brought the same love of Gregorian chant and modal harmony as did his mentor Tournemire.

Finally attaining his dream of becoming organist of Sainte-Clotilde in 1945, he had a long career as organist, teacher, composer, and traveling virtuoso. Despite his blindness he was among the most active touring performers of his time, his legendary recitals always concluding with an improvisation on a submitted theme.

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 Â? only J. S. Bach wrote more compositions for the organ Â? 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.

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