Guilmant won acclaim as an organist traveling to such diverse places as the United States, Canada, Russia, Spain, Italy, Holland, and Belgium. His family was in the organ building business and he was an organist at St Nicolas in Boulogne. For the most part he was self-taught but received some instruction from Carulli and Lummens. Guilmant was the co-founder of The Schola Cantorum with Charles Bordes where Guilmant taught organ. Organ recitals were popularized by Guilmant who helped in the development of the Cavaille-Coll organ. With Widor he established the musical form of the "organ symphony." He composed a great deal of music for the organ including the "Pieces d'orgue dans differents styles," "L'orgainiste pratique," and "L'organiste liturgiste." Other genres included masses, motets, hymns, and the symphonic cantata "Ariane." ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide