Marcel Dupré 50th Celebration Archives

03FebFebruary 3, 2022

DUPRÉ IN THE ’20S

In 1920, Marcel Dupré was 34 years old. He had been, by this time, assistant to Charles-Marie Widor at the Church of Saint-Sulpice and to Louis Vierne at Notre-Dame Cathedral, had won first prize in piano, organ, fugue, and composition at the Paris Conservatory, composed his most famous work (Trois Préludes et Fugues, Op. 7) and won the Premiere Grand Prix de Rome. These achievements were enough to place him at the pinnacle of musicians in France. However, during the...

By Rollin SmithMarcel Dupré 50th Celebration0 Comments

01FebFebruary 1, 2022

Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)

Marcel Jean Jules Dupré, one of the world’s most renowned twentieth century organists was born May 3, 1886 in Rouen, France. He was the only child of Albert Dupré and Alice Chauvière, both of whom were accomplished musicians. Marcel was born into a family of musicians and organists that included his maternal and paternal grandparents, and relatives. Dupré’s paternal grandfather, Aimable Dupré was a gifted pianist, organist, and played several other brass instruments. His paternal grandmother, Marie Visinet Dupré, taught piano....

By Sarah ThomasMarcel Dupré 50th Celebration0 Comments

01FebFebruary 1, 2022

Marcel Dupre: His Legacy Considered 50 Years after his Death

There is little need here to reconsider Marcel Dupré’s stupendous achievements during his long and storied career. His unparalleled feats of virtuosity, improvisation, and composition are recounted elsewhere in detail. It is, however, appropriate at this juncture to attempt to situate Marcel Dupré in the organ culture of his day. Understanding the context of his career goes far in elucidating heresay and all-out misinformation still actively perpetuated 50 years after his passing in 1971.Dupré was trained chiefly by Charles-Marie Widor...