Marie-Claire Alain is one of the world¹s most respected organists, a leading teacher, and an expert on Baroque performing practices. He came from a musical family. Her father was Albert Alain, the organist of the church of St Germain-en-Laye, who gave him his first lessons. Her brother Jehan (1913-1940), fifteen years older than she, was by then already recognized as a highly talented organist who deputized for his father at the church as needed, and was showing talent as a composer. Her other brother, Olivier (b. 1918), eight years older, also was beginning to show talent. It was a blow to both of them when Jehan was killed in action near the start of World War II. The war delayed Olivier¹s and Marie-Claire¹s musical education. She started at the Paris Conservatoire in 1944, studying harmony with Durufflé, counterpoint with Pié-Caussade, and organ with Marcel Dupré. She won four first prizes while at the Conservatoire. After she graduated, she continued to win prizes in organ competitions, notably the Geneva International Competition and the Bach Prize of the Amis de l¹Orgue in Paris. She gave her first recital at St Merri, Paris. She is noted for her scholarship and devotion to stylistic authenticity. She has deeply studied details of ornamentation and interpretation, developing a reputation as a specialist in the music of Bach and earlier composers. He is known for selecting music she considers appropriate for the individual instruments where she gives recitals: For instance, she favors Schnittger or Marcussen organs for Bach, and organs of Cliquot and builders of instruments in similar style for Couperin. The town of Lübeck awarded her its Buxtehude Prize for her services on behalf of Early German music. However, she has also frequently played later music, such as that of Franz Liszt, Olivier Messiaen, and her brother Jehan, and recorded organ concertos of C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Poulenc, Widor, and Vierne. Besides touring around the world, she is in high demand as a teacher and lecturer. She has recorded for her entire career with the French-based Erato label, making well over 200 releases. These include the complete organ music of J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, Bruhns, Couperin, De Grigny, Pachelbel, Mendelssohn, and César Franck. She has earned more than fifteen Grands Prix du Disque. She is a Commander of the Légion d¹Honneur and a Commander of the Ordre National du Mérite. ~ Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide