Leybach, Ignace (Xavier Joseph)

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Leybach, Ignace (Xavier Joseph)

Leybach, Ignace (Xavier Joseph), Alsatian pianist, organist, and composer; b. Gambsheim, July 17, 1817; d. Toulouse, May 23, 1891. He studied in Paris with Pixis, Kalkbrenner, and Chopin, and in 1844 became organist at the Toulouse Cathedral. He publ. some 225 piano pieces, in a facile and pleasing manner. His 5th Nocturne, op.52, became famous, and its popularity continued among succeeding generations of piano students; it was reprinted in countless anthologies of piano music. Other piano compositions are Boléro brillant, Ballade, Valse poétique, Les Batelières de Naples, etc. He also publ. an extensive organ method (3 vols.; 350 pieces).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire