Alexandre Guilmant

French organist and composer (12 March 1837 – 29 March 1911). His father was organ player at the local church St. Nicholas. He was his assistant at the age of 12 and in 1860 he became his successor. In 1871, he went to Paris and became organist in the church Ste. Trinité. In 1894, he founded the 'Schola Cantorum' together with Vincent d'Indy, starting from 1896, he teached organ at the 'Conservatoire Nationale' (the later CNSMDP) as successor of Charles-Marie Widor. As a composer, he was mainly influenced by the reformists of French organ music, Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens and Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, an influential organ constructor. His compositions can be described as symphonic organ music.