Guillou, Jean
Guillou, Jean
Guillou, Jean, prominent French organist, pianist, teacher, and composer; b. Angers, April 18, 1930. He began to study the piano at 5 and the organ at 10. When he was 12, he became organist at the church of St.-Serge in Angers. He then was a student at the Paris Cons. (1945-53) of Dupré, Duruflé, and Messiaen, where he took premiers prix in organ, harmony, counterpoint, and fugue. After serving as prof. of organ at the Istituto de Alta Cultura in Lisbon (1953-57), he went to Berlin to puruse his career. In 1963 he was named organist at St.-Eustache in Paris. He also pursued an international career as a recitalist, principally as an organist. In addition to teaching masterclasses in organ, he publ. a book on organ theory and design, L’Orgue, Souvenir et Avenir (Paris, 1978; 2nd ed., aug., 1989). Guillou’s vast repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the contemporary periods. As a virtuoso organist, he has acquired a reputation for daring registration and rhythms, and for a mastery of improvisation.
Works
ORCH 5 organ concertos (1960, 1963, 1965, 1978, 1979); 2 piano concertos (1969, 1986); 3 syms.: No. 1 for Mezzo-soprano and Orch., Judith-Symphonie (1970), No. 2 for Strings (1974), and No. 3, La Foule (1977); Concerto Heroique for Organ and Orch. (1985); Trombone Concerto (1990). CHAMBER: Colloque No. 1 for Flute, Oboe, Violin, and Piano (1956), No. 2 for Piano and Orch. (1964), No. 3 for Oboe, Harp, Celesta, Percussion, 4 Cellos, and 2 Double Basses (1964), No. 4 for Piano, Organ, and 2 Percussion (1966), and No. 5 for Piano and Organ (1969); Oboe Quartet (1971); Sonata for Trumpet and Organ (1972); Concerto for Violin and Organ (1982); Fantaisie Concertante for Cello and Organ (1991). KEYBOARD : Piano - sonatas (1958, 1978). Organ : Fantaisie (1954); 18 Variations (1956); Sinfonietta (1958); Toccata (1963); Symphonic Initiative for 2 Organs (1969); 7 Sagas (1970-83); Scenes d’Enfants (1974); Jeux d’Orgue (1978); Sonate en Trio (1984); Hyperion (1988); many transcriptions. VOCAL: Andromede for Soprano and Organ (1984); Peace for Chorus and Organ (1985); Aube for Chorus and Organ (1988).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire