Alain, Marie-Claire (1926—)
Alain, Marie-Claire (1926—)
French organist. Born in St. Germain-en-Laye, France, on August 10, 1926; daughter of Albert Alain (an organist); her brother Jehan Alain (1911–1940), the composer and organist, was killed in World War II; student of Durfulé, DuPré, and Plé-Caussade; won the Bach Prize of the Amis de l'Orgue (1951).
The organ was the center of existence to the Alain family. Marie-Claire Alain's father was an organist as was her brother, Jehan. At age 18, Alain entered the Paris Conservatoire where she studied with Durfulé, Dupré, and Plé-Caussade. She won an organ prize at the Geneva International Competition in 1950 and gave her first recital at St. Merri in Paris that same year. The following year, she won the Bach Prize of the Amis de l'Orgue in Paris. She then spent two years studying with Litaize. Marie-Claire Alain was especially interested in 17th- and 18th-century music and in reproducing its sound. When recording or playing, she sought out organs from the era of the composer: Schnitger or Marcussen organs when she performed Bach, Clicquot, Gonzalez or Haerpfer; Erman organs for Couperin and De Grigny. In addition, she performed the complete works of her brother, Jehan, who was killed in World War II. A scholar as well as a concertizer and composer, Alain wrote many articles about the organ.