The organist and composer Gaston Litaize was an important figure in the Paris organ world of the last century. Born blind, Litaize was trained by the equally blind organist
Adolphe Marty, who in turn was a student of the great
César Franck. Litaize completed his studies with
Marcel Dupré, Louis Vierne and
Charles Tournemire. In 1946 Litaize became organist of the church Saint-François-Xavier in
… Paris as successor of Marty. Olivier Latry and Olivier Vernet are among Litaize's best-known pupils. This edition shows how Litaize interpreted the music of his teacher Vierne (Pièces De Fantaisie op.51, 53-55 & 24 Pièces En Style Libre, Sixième Symphonie; recordings remastered in the seventies). Litaize played this music on his instrument at Saint-François-Xavier, which is not often heard in recordings. (HJ)more