14 Facts About Marie-Claire Alain

Marie-Claire Alain was a specialist in Bach, making three recordings of his complete organ works, as well as French organ music.

Marie-Claire Alain was the sister of the famous organist-composers Jehan Alain and Olivier Alain and was the daughter of amateur organbuilder Albert Alain.

Marie-Claire Genevieve Alain, the youngest of the four Alain children, was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 10 August 1926.

Marie-Claire Alain's father Albert Alain was an organist and composer, as were her brothers Jehan and Olivier.

Marie-Claire Alain studied at the Conservatoire de Paris in the organ class of Marcel Dupre, where she was awarded four first prizes.

Marie-Claire Alain won the 2nd prize for organ at the Geneva International Music Competition in 1950.

Marie-Claire Alain taught at the conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison and the Paris Conservatory.

Marie-Claire Alain's pupils included George C Baker, Diane Bish, Guy Bovet, James David Christie, Monique Gendron, Gerre Hancock, Edward Higginbottom, Marcus Huxley, Gunnar Idenstam, Wolfgang Karius, Jon Laukvik, Michael Matthes, Domenico Morgante, Daniel Roth, Wolfgang Rubsam, David Sanger, Helga Schauerte, Dong-ill Shin, de:Martin Strohhacker, Marina Tchebourkina, Thomas Trotter, Fritz Werner and the Hungarian Zsuzsa Elekes.

Marie-Claire Alain was the most-recorded classical organist in the world, with over 260 recordings in her catalogue.

Marie-Claire Alain was devoted to the organ works of her brother Jehan, who died before she began her conservatory studies.

Marie-Claire Alain had a long association with the St Albans International Organ Festival.

Marie-Claire Alain edited compositions by her brother Jehan for publication, including Chanson a bouche fermee.

Marie-Claire Alain married Jacques Charles Gommier was born on 1925 and on 17 June 1950; until his death in 1992 in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges.

Marie-Claire Alain died on 26 February 2013 in a nursing home in Le Pecq, a suburb of Paris, survived by their daughter Aurelie.