Marchai, André (-Louis)

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Marchai, André (-Louis)

Marchai, André (-Louis), distinguished blind French organist and pedagogue; b. Paris, Feb. 6,1894; d. St. Jean-de-Luz, Aug. 27,1980. He was blind from birth; studied at the Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles; later entered the Paris Cons, in the class of Gigout. In 1915 he became organist at St. Germain-des-Près in Paris. He then served at St. Eustache from 1945 to 1963. He began a concert career in 1923, becoming greatly admired for his exhaustive repertoire and brilliance as an improviser. He was also esteemed as a teacher.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Marchai, André (-Louis)

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