Victor Jean Félix Henri LetocartArchives of the Hauts-de-Seine online, 7/2/66 act #39, view n°12, without mention of death (6 February 1866 – 1945) was a French

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...

and composer.

Biography

Born in

Courbevoie Courbevoie () is a commune located in the Hauts-de-Seine Department of the Île-de-France region of France. It is in the suburbs of the city of Paris, from the center of Paris. The centre of Courbevoie is situated from the city limits of Pa ...

, Henri Letocard was the son of a music teacher, Joseph Félix Letocart. He began his musical studies in 1879 at the École Niedermeyer, with Clément Loret and Eugène Gigout for the organ, before entering the

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

in 1885 in the organ classes of César Franck and music composition of Ernest Guiraud. After the Conservatory, where he obtained a second degree in organ in 1887, he was first called to the position of organist of the church of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1900, he was appointed organist of the new instrument by at until 1920, and

maître de chapelle (, also , ) from German ''Kapelle'' (chapel) and ''Meister'' (master)'','' literally "master of the chapel choir" designates the leader of an ensemble of musicians. Originally used to refer to somebody in charge of music in a chapel, the term ha ...

, a position he held until 1933. Letocart was one of the most militant supporters of the restoration of

liturgical chant Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partici ...

. The organist and composer André Fleury was one of his students, as was the composer .

Works

* ''La Lyre Catholique'', 3 volumes of pieces for harmonium (entries, offerings, elevations, communions, exits, verses) specially written for the religious service * Pieces for organ * Motets * Mélodies * Symphonic poems

Bibliography

* Biographical notes in ''Maîtres contemporains de l'orgue'', volume 2, 1911

References

External links

Henri Letocart
on IdRef * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Letocart, Henri 1866 births 1945 deaths People from Courbevoie 19th-century French composers 20th-century French composers French composers of sacred music French classical organists French male organists 19th-century French male musicians 20th-century French male musicians Male classical organists