René Alix (14 September 1907 – 30 December 1966) was a French
organist,
choral conductor and
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
.
Biography
Born in
Sotteville-lès-Rouen, René Alix studied music in Rouen with
Marcel Lanquetuit, in Paris with
Georges Caussade and
Albert Bertelin. He was organist at the Saint-Michel church of
Le Havre
Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...
from 1929 to 1939. In 1945 he directed the choirs of the
RTF then in 1954 he was appointed director of the
École César Franck. The author of a reference musical grammar, he has written piano and organ pieces, masses, one
string quartet
The term string quartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century onwards wrote string quartets. The associated musical ensemble consists of two Violin, violini ...
, melodies, symphonic poems, (''Les Revenants'', ''Danses'', ''Confidences'') and an
oratorio
An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble.
Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...
, ''Les Saintes Heures de Jeanne d'Arc'' (1954).
In 1962, he was awarded the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris.
Alix died in Paris on 30 December 1966
Works
Opera
* ''Yolande'',
opéra comique
''Opéra comique'' (; plural: ''opéras comiques'') is a genre of French opera that contains spoken dialogue and arias. It emerged from the popular ''opéras comiques en vaudevilles'' of the Théâtre de la foire, Fair Theatres of St Germain and S ...
(1937)
Orchestral music
* ''Revenants'', ballade symphonique (1945)
* ''Suite brève'', for piano and strings (1948)
* ''Concerto pour piano et orchestre'', Op. 16 (1949)
* ''Danses et confidences'', suite (1950)
Choral music
* ''Les Très saintes heures de Jeanne d'Arc'', oratorio (1954)
* ''Messe'', for soloists, choir and orchestra (1955)
* ''Messe matutinale'', for ''
a cappella
Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...
'' choir (1958)
Chamber music
* ''Sonata for violin and piano'' (1938)
* 2 string quartets (1954)
Sources
*
Alain Pâris, ''Dictionnaire des interprètes'' Bouquins/Laffont 1988, (p. 149)
*
External links
René Alixon Musicalics
René Alixon Discogs
René Alixon Leoncedesaintmartin.fr
René Alix (1907-1966) : Piano Concerto (1948)on YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alix, Rene
French classical organists
20th-century French composers
French composers of sacred music
French opera composers
French male opera composers
French choral conductors
French male conductors (music)
1907 births
People from Seine-Maritime
Musicians from Normandy
1966 deaths
20th-century French organists
20th-century French conductors (music)
20th-century French male musicians
French male classical organists