Lefébure-Wély

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Lefébure-Wély

Lefébure-Wély, Louis James Alfred, French organist and composer;b. Paris, Nov. 13, 1817; d. there, Dec. 31, 1869. A pupil of his father, he took, at the age of 8, the latter’s place as organist of the church of St.-Roch, becoming its regular organist at 14. Entering the Paris Cons, in 1832, he was taught by Benoist (organ), Laurent and Zimmerman (piano), and Berton and Halévy (composition). From 1847 to 1858 he was organist at the Madeleine, then at St. Sulpice.

Works

Les Recruteurs, opera (1861); Après la victoire, cantata (1863); 3 masses; 3 syms.; String Quintet; String Quartet; muchelegant salon music for piano (his most celebrated piece is The Monastery Bells); 50 piano études; harmonium music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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