Marcel Dupré: The Work of a Master Organist

by Dr Michael Murray

May 1986 is the century of Dupre's birth. This splendid biography of a master musician, organist of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, 1934-71, is an excellent resource. The discography and catalog of works sum up Dupre's international career as performing artist (over 700 recitals in the US), composer, editor, teacher, and director of the organ department of the Paris Conservatorie (1926-54). Murray, who studied with Dupre (1962-64) does not discuss Dupre's compositions in detail; the focus is on the 19th- and 20th-century French organ world of Guilmant, Widor, Vierne, and Albert Dupre, Marcel's father. Well written, easily understandable, the book is based on interviews, family documents in French libraries, and Dupre's memoir Recollections (1975; tr. by Marcel Dupre Reconte, Paris, 1972). Murray's biography describes the conflict between neo-classic and orchestral-style partisans, and the post-1920 anti-Romantic movement, which caused the destruction and modification of historic organs. Murray is on the Romantic side, and he has much information about the Cavaille-Coll instruments which Dupre played through his life. Comparisons are drawn with the American organ builder Ernest Skinner. The foreword by Jacques Barzun speaks of ``a life of dedication to an ancient art.'' General and academic readers, lower-division undergraduate and up.-K. Thomerson, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville/St. Louis Conservatory of Music

260 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1985