Influenced by César Franck and Widor, Louis Vierne belongs to the French tradition of organists, succeeding the latter at the conservatoire and later becoming organist at Notre Dame. He is an important figure among French organ composers.

Louis Vierne was born in 1870 nearly blind, though surgery at the age of six gave him the ability to recognise shapes and people, and to read large print. His exceptional gift for music was clear from his earliest years and was carefully nurtured, first at the musically renowned Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (a lycée for blind students) and later at the Paris Conservatoire where, under the tuition of César Franck, Vierne won First Prize in the organ class of 1894. For almost 20 years he assisted Franck and his successor Charles-Marie Widor in the teaching of the class.

Alongside his work at the Conservatoire, where he was renowned as a kind and patient teacher, Vierne played the organ at the famous Paris church of Saint-Sulpice (assisting Widor) and in 1900 was appointed as Organiste Titulaire at the iconic cathedral of Notre-Dame. As holder of this famous position, Vierne became well known around the world; early on in his time at Notre-Dame, he gave several recitals in the United States in order to raise funds for the restoration of the cathedral organ, and he also toured extensively in Europe, including a trip to Britain in 1924. Vierne became a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur in 1931, and died in 1937 while giving his 1750th recital at the organ of Notre-Dame.

Organ Music

Vierne wrote six organ symphonies, four collections of Pièces de fantaisie and 24 Pièces en style libre (‘Pieces in Free Style’).