Olivier Alain
Olivier Georges Alain was a French organist, pianist, musicologist and composer.
Life
Alain was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, into a musical family. His father, Albert Alain was an organist and composer, as was his elder brother Jehan Alain, and his younger sister, Marie-Claire, was herself a noted organist. He studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he received first prizes in composition and musical analysis.In 1950, he became director of the conservatory in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he worked until 1964. From 1960-1974, he served as director of the École César Franck in Paris, and in 1976 founded the Conservatoire National de Région in Paris, whose director he was until 1985, and where he taught classes in musical analysis and chamber music. His notable students include composers Alain Gagnon.
Alain's catalog of musical compositions contains almost 170 compositions of various genres, most of which are still unpublished. He also published a book on harmony and a monograph on Johann Sebastian Bach. His comprehensive chronology and analysis of the life and complete works of J. S. Bach is still unpublished. His discovery of the 14 Canons on the first 8 fundamental notes of the aria from the Goldberg Variations in Strasbourg in 1974 is often regarded as one of the greatest Bach-source finds of the 20th century.
He died in 1994 in Férolles-Attilly.
Compositions
Organ solo
Chanson de la brume en mer op. 64 Suite op. 135 Lacrymae op. 150 Prélude: Introït-Récitatif pour le 2e Dimanche après l'Épiphanie op. 158 Offertoire-Fantaisie op. 160 Récit pour l'Élévation op. 161 Microludes op. 166Chamber music
Dithyrambe op. 18 for Oboe and Piano or Trumpet, Flute and Organ Sicilienne op. 24 for Piano, Flute and Organ Divertissement op. 73 for Flute and Piano or Organ Ritournelle op. 74 for Oboe and Piano or Flute, Violin and Organ Suite op. 98 for Violin and Piano String Quartet op. 123 Aventure op. 144 for Flute and Organ Suite française: Suite pour Rameau op. 163 for Trumpet and Organ or Flute and Organ Ballade op. 163b for Piano and Organ Songe ou Souvenances op. 164 for Oboe and Organ or Flute and Organ Threnos op. 167 for Piano and Organ- 12 more unpublished chamber music works
Choral works
Lucis Creator optimae op. 55 for Choir and Organ Petrus quidem op. 76 for Choir a capella Jesu, dulcis amor meus op. 77 for Choir, Soloists and Organ Noël: Allons, ma voisine op. 78 for Choir a capella Cibavit eos op. 88 for Choir a capella 3 Repons du Vendredi Saint op. 136-138 for Choir a capella 3 Repons du Jeudi Saint op. 139-141 for Choir a capella 3 Déplorations: Repons du Samedi Saint op. 145-147 for voice and keyboard- 15 more unpublished choral compositions
Piano solo
Intermezzo op. 162- 47 more unpublished piano compositions
Two pianos
Première Ballade op. 69 in E minor Deuxième Ballade op. 75 in A-flat major 4 Danses op. 112 5 Pièces op. 112aVoice and piano
Stances du Banquet op. 79- 41 more unpublished works for voice and piano