Book Description

This is the first book on the French composer Jean Langlais to be published in English and also the first to provide complete information on all of his published works plus 86 unplubished compositions, and eleven orchestral works. This book traces Langlais' development from his early years of study at the National Institute for the Young Blind, through his long and active career as composer, church musician, and concert organist, and explores the impact that Langlais' hard work, determination, and talent have had on the musical world. It is divided into five major sections, including a biography, interviews, works and performances, a discography, and a bibliography. Listing 240 compositions written between 1927 and 1987, and containing a complete discography of both commercially produced and privately released recordings, the major portion of this volume is an annotated bibliography of writings by and about Langlais, with 536 entries, covering the years from 1926 to 1987, when he celebrated his eightieth birthday. Categories include general references, individual compositions, improvisations, reviews of recordings, nonprint sources, and archive information. There is valuable information on premieres, reactions to Langlais' works and performances, recital programs, and correspondence. The opus numbers, recently completed by Marie-Louise Jaquet-Langlais, the composer's wife, are published here for the first time in a chronological list of compositions, and the index section covers works, authors and translators, and general information.