Alain, Marie-Claire (1926–)

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Alain, Marie-Claire (1926–)

French organist. Born in St. Germain-en-Laye, France, Aug 10, 1926; dau. of Albert Alain (organist); sister of Jehan Alain (1911–1940), composer and organist; studied with Durfulé, DuPré, and Plé-Caussade.

Won an organ prize at Geneva International Competition (1950) and gave 1st recital at St. Merri in Paris (1950); won Bach Prize of the Amis de l'Orgue in Paris (1951); studied for 2 years with Litaize; performed complete works of her brother Jehan Alain, who was killed in WWII; wrote many articles about the organ; especially interested in 17th- and 18th-century music and in reproducing its sound, sought out organs from the era of the composer when recording or playing: Schnitger or Marcussen organs, when she performed Bach, Clicquot, Gonzalez or Haerpfer, and Erman organs for Couperin and De Grigny.