Was Alexandre Guilmant aware that a street would bear his name? Here, we stand on Rue Alexandre Guilmant in Meudon. It is a tribute to a remarkable French organist and composer. Alexandre Guilmant’s life was filled with music.
Born in 1837 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Guilmant showed early musical talent. His father Jean-Baptiste Guilmant, was his first teacher. Later, he studied with Gustave Carulli and Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens. By 16, Alexandre Guilmant was already an organist. He played at Saint-Joseph in his hometown. At 20, he became choir director at Saint-Nicolas.
Guilmant’s skill gained recognition. His performances at the inauguration of organs at Saint-Sulpice and Notre-Dame de Paris were impressive. In 1871, he became the titular organist at La Trinité. He succeeded Charles-Alexis Chauvet.
His concert tours were triumphant. Guilmant traveled through England and Italy. He performed in Russia and Riga. The Paris World Exhibition in 1878 featured his Trocadéro-Saal organ concerts. Alexandre Guilmant visited the USA three times. In 1904, he played at the St. Louis World Exhibition. He played the large Harris organ. It was later moved to the Wanamaker Department Store in Philadelphia. Today, it is known as the world’s largest fully playable organ.
Alexandre Guilmant founded the Schola Cantorum in 1894. It was a school for church music in Paris. In 1896, he became head of the organ class at the Conservatoire. Many famous students came from his class. Marcel Dupré was his most celebrated student.
Guilmant’s compositions helped develop a unique French romantic organ style. He wrote eight organ sonatas. Two were arranged as symphonies for organ and orchestra. In 1909, Guilmant chaired the international Mandolinist and Guitar Congress.
Alexandre Guilmant married Louise Rosalie Blériot in 1865. They had four children. Félix became a painter. Pauline married Maurice Aliamet. Marie-Louise married Egyptologist Victor Loret. Cécile Rosalie Thérèse married Sauterau.
After his wife Louise died in 1908, Alexandre Guilmant passed away in 1911. He was 74. He died at his villa in Meudon. He was buried in his wife’s family grave at Cimetière Montparnasse.
He lived here on Chemin de la Station N°10. The street is now named Rue Alexandre Guilmant. His villa is gone. Only the entrance gate remains.
Alexandre Guilmant also built house organs. With his father, he built a small organ with four registers. He kept it with him until his death. In 1899, he had Mutin-Cavaillé-Coll build a large house organ. Marcel Dupré later owned it. He moved it to his own villa nearby.
Alexandre Guilmant’s compositions include instrumental and vocal works. He focused on organ works. Some were transcribed for harmonium or piano.
So as you walk along Rue Alexandre Guilmant remember the legacy of a gifted musician. His music still resonates today.