About author : MOREAU Félix

Son and grandson of organists (his father was at Aigrefeuille sur Maine for 75 years), Felix MOREAU began his musical studies in Nantes with Marcel COURTONNE (himself pupil of Vincent d’INDY and Louis VIERNE).He continued his studies in Paris, with André FLEURY, Gaston LITAIZE, Marcel DUPRÉ, and finally with Maurice DURUFLÉ underwitch he studied from 1948 to 1953 for the harmony, counterpoint, fugue, composition, interpretation and improvisation.

Assistant of Canon COURTONNE to the Great Organ of the Cathedral of Nantes since 1945, it became titular organist upon Courtonne’s death in 1954.

Impassioned with Gregorian chant, Félix Moreau made frequent visits to the Abbey of Solesmes. Recitalist, he performed in France and abroad (Germany, England, Switzerland, Italy, North America). He was the guest of several festivals in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada. He inaugurated more than one hundred instruments. He was a professor of organ and writing at the National Academy of Area of Angers and at the National School of Music of Saint-Nazaire.

He was the guest during six years in Quebec (Canada), it founded the “Sessions of organists”. In France, it also directed many training programs of organists. He is a honorary president of the National Association of the Liturgical Organists of France (ANFOL).

Composer, winner of the Laffont Prize in 1954 and first National Prize of Sacred music in 1956 in Paris, he wrote many pages of vocal music (Masses, Motets, Psalms…) as well as important pieces for the organ: “Fantaisie-paraphrase”, “Suite modale”, “Incarnation”, “Genèse”, “Hymnal” (for 2 organs; requested buy the Ministry for the Culture, 1988), “Toccata cri d’espoir” (1992), “Stèle pour le tombeau de Duruflé” (2004)…. He is chevalier of the Legion of Honour and officer of “Arts and Letters”.

Website about Félix Moreau :

http://www.hymnal-orgue.org