Louis Vierne

Louis Victor Jules Vierne (8 October 1870 – 2 June 1937) was a French organist and composer. He was the organist of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900 until his death. As a composer, much of his output was organ music, including six symphonies and four suites, and works for choir and organ, including a Messe solennelle for choir and two organs. He toured Europe and the United States as a concert organist. His students included Nadia Boulanger and Maurice Duruflé.

When Vierne's mother died on 25 March 1902, he moved to a larger flat on Rue ses Saints-Pères. A second son, André, was born on 6 January 1903, and a daughter, Collette, was born on 5 January 1907. In 1906, a street accident in Paris caused him to badly fracture his leg, and it was briefly thought that his leg would need to be amputated. The leg was saved, but his recovery, and the task of completely re-learning his pedal technique, took a half a year. Organ Symphonies Nos. 1-6: Martin Jean; Loft Recordings Organ Symphonies Nos. 1-6: David Sanger; Meridian Recordings Organ Symphonies Nos. 1-6: Günther Kaunzinger; Koch-Schwann Organ Symphonies Nos. 1-6: Jeremy Filsell; Signum Classics Second Symphony for Organ: Christopher Houlihan 24 Pièces de fantaisie: Kaunzinger; Novalis; 2 CDs 24 Pièces De Fantaisie: Gaston Litaize; La Voix de son Maitre; 2 LPs 24 Pièces en style libre op. 31: Kaunzinger; Koch-Schwann; 2 CDs

Choir and organ Louis Vierne: Complete Choral Works: Truro Cathedral Choir; Robert Sharpe & Christopher Gray; Regent Records (2008) Messe solennelle: Pierre Pincemaille (organ), Ensemble de cuivres de l'Opéra de Paris, 1998 - Forlane 16786 .

Other Louis Vierne: Symphonie en la mineur, Poème pour piano et orchestre – François Kerdoncuff, piano; Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège; Pierre Bartholomée, conductor; Timpani (2007) Louis Vierne: La Musique de chambre intégrale (The Complete Chamber Music) – François Kerdoncuff, piano; Olivier Gardon, piano; Alexis Galpérine, violin; Odile Carracilly, viola; Yvan Chiffoleau, cello; Christian Moreaux, oboe; Pascale Zanlonghi, harp; Quartour Phillips; 2 CDs; Timpani (2005) Louis Vierne: Piano Quintet op. 42: Stephen Coombs, piano; Chilingirian Quartet; Hyperion Louis Vierne: Piano Quintet op. 42: Tamara Atschba, Louise Chisson, Matthias Adensamer, Alexander Znamensky, Christophe Pantillon; Gramola (2014) Louis Vierne: Preludes for piano op. 38: Tamara Atschba; Gramola (2014) Louis Vierne: L'œuvre pour piano (Works for piano) – Olivier Gardon; 2 CDs; Timpani (1995) Louis Vierne: Mélodies – Mireille Delunsch, soprano; François Kerdoncuff; Christine Icart, harp; Timpani (1997) Louis Vierne: Mélodies (volume I) – Delunsch; Kerdoncuff; Timpani (2005) Louis Vierne: Songs: Rachel Santesso, soprano; Roger Vignoles, piano; Andrew Reid, organ; Hugh Webb, harp; Deux-Elles