Composer, Organist. He was born in Lyons, France to a musical family. His father was organist at St. François, Lyons, and gave the young Charles-Marie his first lessons on the organ. Widor showed early musical promise and at the age of 11 became the organist at the lycée in Lyons. A few years later he began intensive organ study in Brussels with the great master of the J. S. Bach tradition, Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens (1823-1881). It was during this period of time that Widor acquired his virtuoso technique. With the death of Louis Lefébure-Wély in 1869, Widor became the organist at St. Sulpice in Paris, a position he would hold for the next 64 years. Widor was best known for his great symphonies for organ solo, which he composed in two sets of four (opus 13 & 42) from 1872 to 1887. The toccata (final movement) from his Fifth Symphony is by far his most widely played work and is the tour de force on most recital programs. Beyond being a virtuoso organist and composer for that instrument, Widor prolifically composed for other media, completing some 34 works for solo and piano duos, 48 chamber works (mostly for winds, strings, and piano), 27 solo vocal and choral works, and 3 operas. In 1890, Widor became professor of organ at the Paris conservatory, where he would teach several generations of gifted organists, such as Marcel Dupré, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, and Dr. Albert Schweitzer. From 1914 to 1916, he collaborated with Schweitzer to edit and publish the first four volumes of J. S. Bach organ works. Widor was an active composer and organist up to age of 90 and was succeeded at St. Sulpice by Dupré in 1934.
Composer, Organist. He was born in Lyons, France to a musical family. His father was organist at St. François, Lyons, and gave the young Charles-Marie his first lessons on the organ. Widor showed early musical promise and at the age of 11 became the organist at the lycée in Lyons. A few years later he began intensive organ study in Brussels with the great master of the J. S. Bach tradition, Jaak Nikolaas Lemmens (1823-1881). It was during this period of time that Widor acquired his virtuoso technique. With the death of Louis Lefébure-Wély in 1869, Widor became the organist at St. Sulpice in Paris, a position he would hold for the next 64 years. Widor was best known for his great symphonies for organ solo, which he composed in two sets of four (opus 13 & 42) from 1872 to 1887. The toccata (final movement) from his Fifth Symphony is by far his most widely played work and is the tour de force on most recital programs. Beyond being a virtuoso organist and composer for that instrument, Widor prolifically composed for other media, completing some 34 works for solo and piano duos, 48 chamber works (mostly for winds, strings, and piano), 27 solo vocal and choral works, and 3 operas. In 1890, Widor became professor of organ at the Paris conservatory, where he would teach several generations of gifted organists, such as Marcel Dupré, Louis Vierne, Charles Tournemire, and Dr. Albert Schweitzer. From 1914 to 1916, he collaborated with Schweitzer to edit and publish the first four volumes of J. S. Bach organ works. Widor was an active composer and organist up to age of 90 and was succeeded at St. Sulpice by Dupré in 1934.
Bio by: Tim Pettay
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