Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

January 11, 1902 in Louviers, Eure, France

Death

:

June 16, 1986 in Paris, France

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

Maurice Duruflé was a French composer and organist who was born on January 11, 1902, in Louviers, Normandy. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was an organist and choir director, and his mother was a singer. Duruflé began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and organ with his father. In 1912, Duruflé entered the Rouen Conservatory, where he studied piano, organ, and composition. He was a talented student and won several prizes for his compositions. In 1920, he moved to Paris to study at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied with Charles Tournemire and Louis Vierne. He also studied composition with Paul Dukas and harmony with Jean Gallon. Duruflé's career as a composer began in the 1920s, and he quickly gained a reputation as one of the leading composers of his generation. His early works were influenced by the French impressionist composers, such as Debussy and Ravel, but he later developed his own unique style that blended traditional forms with modern harmonies. One of Duruflé's most famous works is his Requiem, which he began composing in 1941 and completed in 1947. The Requiem is a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead and is scored for choir, soloists, organ, and orchestra. It is a deeply spiritual work that reflects Duruflé's Catholic faith and his love of Gregorian chant. The Requiem has become one of the most popular choral works of the 20th century and is often performed in churches and concert halls around the world. Another of Duruflé's notable works is his Suite for Organ, which he composed in 1932. The Suite is a set of four pieces that showcase the versatility of the organ and Duruflé's skill as a composer. The Suite has become a staple of the organ repertoire and is often performed in recitals and church services. Duruflé was also a renowned organist and served as the organist at the Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris from 1929 until his retirement in 1975. He was known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to improvise on the organ. He also taught at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1943 until 1970, where he influenced a generation of young organists and composers. In addition to his compositions and performances, Duruflé was also a respected musicologist and edited several volumes of Gregorian chant. He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts and was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1966. Duruflé's later years were marked by declining health, and he suffered a stroke in 1975 that forced him to retire from his position at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. He continued to compose, however, and completed several works in the years before his death. He died on June 16, 1986, in Louveciennes, France, at the age of 84. Maurice Duruflé was a prolific composer and organist who left a lasting legacy in the world of classical music. His works continue to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world, and his influence can be heard in the works of many contemporary composers.

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