Langlais, Jean (François-Hyacinthe)

Langlais, Jean (François-Hyacinthe), admired blind French organist, teacher, and composer; b. La Fontenelle, Feb. 15, 1907; d. Paris, May 8, 1991. He was blind from birth. His life was centered on Paris, where he first studied at the Institution des Jeunes Aveugles (1917–30), his principal mentor being Marchai for organ; he then pursued his training at the Cons, with Dupré (organ; premier prix, 1930), N. Gallon (counterpoint), Dukas (composition; 2^nd prix, 1935), and Tourne-mire (improvisation). From 1930 to 1968 he was a prof, at the Institution des Jeunes Aveugles, and from 1961 to 1976 he was prof, of organ and composition at the Schola Cantorum. After serving as organist at Notre Dame de la Croix and at St.-Pierre de Montrouge (1935–45), he held that position at Ste.-Clotilde (1945–77). He also made tours as a concert artist in Europe, and in 1952 he made his first visit to the U.S. In 1988 he gave his farewell recital at London’s Royal Festival Hall. In his compositions, Langlais displayed an adroit use of polymodal harmonies, Gregorian themes, hymn tunes, and Breton folk melodies.

Works

orch.:Cloches(1935); Essai sur L’évangile de Noël (1935; Lyons, Feb. 1936); Hymne d’action des grâces (1935; Lyons, Feb. 1936); Piece in Free Form for Organ and Orch. (1935; Paris, Jan. 28, 1936; also for Organ and String Quartet); Suite concertante for Cello and Orch. (1936); Pièce symphonique (1937); Theme, Variations, and Finale (1937; Paris, June 1938; rev. as Theme and Variations for Organ, Brass, and Strings, N.Y., April 21, 1978); Le Diable qui n’est à personne for Ondes Martenot and Orch. (1946; Paris, Feb. 14, 1947); Légende de St. Julien l’hospitalier (1947; Paris, March 8, 1948); Premier Concerto for Organ or Harpsichord and Orch. (1949); Le Soleil se leve sur Assise (Paris, Dec. 30, 1950); Deuxième Concerto for Organ and Orch. (1961; Cleveland Heights, Ohio, May 11, 1962); Troisième Concerto: Reaction (1971; Potsdam, N.Y., March 2, 1978); Réminiscences (Quimper, Aug. 6, 1980). chamber:Ave Maria Stella for Organ and Horn (1934); Fantaisie: Pièce en forme libre for Piano and String Quartet (1935); Trio for Flute, Violin, and Viola (Paris, Feb. 9, 1935); Ligne for Cello (1937); Suite bretonne for Strings (Paris, Dec. 21, 1938); Duo for Violin and Cello, Suite concertante (1943); Pièces for Violin and Piano (1951); Sonnerie for 4 Trumpets and 4 Trombones (1961); Elégie for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, and String Quintet (1965; Rennes, March 21, 1966); Pièce for Trumpet and Organ (1971; Pittsburgh, April 26, 1972); Sept Chorals for Trumpet and Organ (1972); Diptyque for Piano and Organ (French Radio, Feb. 11, 1974); Sonatine for Trumpet and Organ (1976; Pittsburgh, April 25, 1978); Pastorale et rondo for 2 Trumpets and Organ (1982); Petite Rapsodie for Flute and Piano (1983); Mouvement for Flute or Oboe or Violin (Pittsburgh, Oct. 6, 1987); Vitrail for Clarinet and Piano (1987). keyboard: piano: Suite for Piano, 4-hands (1934; rev. 1947); Prélude et Fugue (1936); Suite armoricaine (Paris, May 3, 1938); Petite Suite (1986); Noël breton (1987). organ:Prélude et Fugue (1927); Trois Poèmes évangéliques (Paris, May 29, 1932); 3 syms.: No. 1 (1941-12; Paris, June 1943), No. 2 (1959; rev. 1979; Paris, May 31, 1982), and No. 3 (Elsah, 111., April 3, 1977); Suite française (1948; Lorraine Radio, May 8, 1949); Hommage à Frescobaldi (1951); Suite folklorique (1952); Organ Book (1956); American Suite (1959–60); Mosaïque I (1959, 1976; Pittsburgh, Oct. 21, 1976), II (1976; Pittsburgh, Sept. 15, 1977), and III (1977; Pittsburgh, April 25, 1978); Homage to J.Ph. Rameau (1962-64; N.Y., July 20, 1965); Poem of Life (1965); Poem of Peace (1965; Washington, D.C, Jan. 16, 1967); Poem of Happiness (1966; Paris, May 17, 1969); Sonate en trio (1967); Offrande à Marie (1971; Washington, D.C, Aug. 20, 1972); Cinq Méditations sur l’Apocalypse (1973; Paris, April 11, 1974); Suite baroque (Mulhouse, Dec. 2, 1973); Trois Esquisses gothiques for 2 Organs (1975; Washington, D.C, Oct. 29, 1976); Triptych grégorien (Pittsburgh, Sept. 14, 1978); Prélude et Allegro (1982; Cardiff, May 28, 1983); Huit Préludes (Pittsburgh, Sept. 9, 1984); B.A.C.H., 6 pieces (Paris, Dec. 21, 1985); Talitha Koum: Resurrection (Paris, Nov. 18, 1985); American Folk Hymn Settings (St. Louis, June 8, 1986); Fantasy on 2 Scottish Themes (1986; Edinburgh, June 10, 1987); many other pieces. vocal:Deux Psaumes for 4 Mixed Voices and Orch. or Piano or Organ (1937; Paris, March 19, 1938); Psaume solennel I for Choruses, Organ, Brass, and Timpani (1937; Boys Town, Nebr., Aug. 30, 1963), II for Choruses, Organ, and Optional Brass (1963; Providence, R.I., March 7, 1965), and III for Choruses, Organ, and Optional Brass (1964; Hartford, Conn., March 7, 1965); Mystère du vendredi saint for Chorus, Orch., and Organ (Montrouge, April 23, 1943); Pie Jesu for Soprano or Tenor, 2 Violins, Cello, Organ, and Harpsichord (1943; also for Soloists and Orch.); Trots Motets for Voice and Orch. or Organ (1943); La Ville d’Ys for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1945; Paris, Dec. 19, 1948); Cantate à St. Vincent de Paul for Chorus and String Orch. or Organ (1946); Messe solennelle for 4 Mixed Voices, Congregation, and 2 Organs or Brass and Organ (1949; Paris, Oct. 15, 1950); Cantate de Noël for Soloists, Choruses, and 12 Instruments (Paris, Dec. 25, 1951); Missa Salve Regina for Men’s Chorus, Congregation, Trumpets, Trombones, and Organs (Paris, Dec. 25, 1954); La Passion for 8 Soloists, Narrator, Choruses, and Orch. (1957; Paris, March 27, 1958); Le Mystère du Christ for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1957); Psalm 150: Praise Ye the Lord for Men’s Voices and Organ (1958; Boston, Jan. 10, 1959); Canticle of the Sun for 3 Treble Voices and Instruments (1965; Philadelphia, March 7, 1967); Solemn Mass for 4 Mixed Voices, Congregation, Organ, and Brass (Washington, D.C., Nov. 1, 1969); Hymn of Praise: Te Deum Laudamus for 4 Mixed Voices, Congregation, Organ, Trumpets, and Percussion (1973); Psaume 111: Beatus Via Qui Timet Dominum for 4 Mixed Voices and Organ (1977; Cambridge, Mass., April 21, 1978); Hymne de soir for Men’s Voices (Paris, May 14, 1984); A Morning Hymn for 4 Mixed Voices and Organ or Piano (1985; San Francisco, Jan. 12, 1986); Ubi Caritas for 4 Mixed Voices and Organ (Boston, Oct. 12, 1986); Mort et résurrection: In memoriam Jehan Alain (1990); numerous other sacred and secular pieces, including songs.

Bibliography

R. Nyquist, The Use of Gregorian Chant in the Organ Music ofj. L. (diss., Ind. Univ., 1968); K. Thomerson, /. L: A Bio-Bibliography (Westport, Conn., 1988); M.-L. Jaquet-Langlais, /. L., 1907-1991: Ombre et lumière (Paris, 1995).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire