Alain, Olivier

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Alain, Olivier

Alain, Olivier, French pianist, musicologist, and composer, brother of Jehan (Ariste) and Marie-Claire Alain; b. St. Germain-en-Laye, Aug. 3, 1918; d. Paris, Feb. 28, 1994. He studied organ and piano in his youth; then took courses in composition with Aubin and Messiaen at the Paris Cons. From 1950 to 1964 he served as director of the Cons. in St. Germain-en-Laye; in 1961 he was appointed to the faculty of the École César Franck in Paris. He composed an oratorio, Chant funèbre sur les morts en montagne (1950); also motets and pieces for organ and piano.

Writings

L’Harmonie (Paris, 1965); Bach (Paris, 1970).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire