Jean Langlais: A Bio-Bibliography

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This is the first book on the French composer Jean Langlais to be published in English and also the first to provide complete information on all of his published works plus 86 unplubished compositions, and eleven orchestral works. This book traces Langlais' development from his early years of study at the National Institute for the Young Blind, through his long and active career as composer, church musician, and concert organist, and explores the impact that Langlais' hard work, determination, and talent have had on the musical world. It is divided into five major sections, including a biography, interviews, works and performances, a discography, and a bibliography. Listing 240 compositions written between 1927 and 1987, and containing a complete discography of both commercially produced and privately released recordings, the major portion of this volume is an annotated bibliography of writings by and about Langlais, with 536 entries, covering the years from 1926 to 1987, when he celebrated his eightieth birthday. Categories include general references, individual compositions, improvisations, reviews of recordings, nonprint sources, and archive information. There is valuable information on premieres, reactions to Langlais' works and performances, recital programs, and correspondence. The opus numbers, recently completed by Marie-Louise Jaquet-Langlais, the composer's wife, are published here for the first time in a chronological list of compositions, and the index section covers works, authors and translators, and general information.

Reviews

Thomerson has provided excellent scholarly reference material for anyone interested in this great organist and composer. The biography is brief, but carefully documented and supplemented with interviews with both Langlais and his wife. The annotated listing of compositions is wonderfully useful. The 240 works are grouped according to performance medium. Thomerson includes information concerning publication, instrumentation, origin of borrowed themes, premiere performance, and reviews or literary references to each work. The discography is also annotated and obviously done with great care. The bibliography includes an annotated listing of all references to the music of Langlais. The chapter is divided into general references, references to individual works, articles on his improvisations, reviews of his recordings, works in preparation (including three doctoral dissertations about Langlais), videocassettes, tape recordings, and archive collections.-Choice
"Thomerson has provided excellent scholarly reference material for anyone interested in this great organist and composer. The biography is brief, but carefully documented and supplemented with interviews with both Langlais and his wife. The annotated listing of compositions is wonderfully useful. The 240 works are grouped according to performance medium. Thomerson includes information concerning publication, instrumentation, origin of borrowed themes, premiere performance, and reviews or literary references to each work. The discography is also annotated and obviously done with great care. The bibliography includes an annotated listing of all references to the music of Langlais. The chapter is divided into general references, references to individual works, articles on his improvisations, reviews of his recordings, works in preparation (including three doctoral dissertations about Langlais), videocassettes, tape recordings, and archive collections."-Choice

Author Bio

KATHLEEN THOMERSON a Lecturer at SIUE, is the author and composer of seven published anthems and hymns.