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Back to article: CHARLES MARIE WIDOR (1845- )

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WIDOR, CHARLES MARIE (1845- ), French composer and organist, was born at Lyons on the 22nd of February 1845. He studied first at Lyons, then at Brussels under Lemmens for the organ and Fetis for composition. In 187o he became organist of the church of Saint Sulpice in Paris. He succeeded Cesar Franck as professor of the organ at the Paris Conservatoire, where he was also appointed professor of composition, counterpoint and fugue in 1896. A very prolific composer, he displayed his creative ability in a variety of different styles. His works include an opera, Maitre Ambros (Opera Comique, 1896), La Korrigane (ballet, given at the Opera, 188o), incidental music to Conte d'avril (1885), Les Jacobites (1885) and Jeanne d'Arc (a panto-mime play, 1890), three symphonies, The Walpurgis Night and other works for orchestra, a quintet for strings and piano, trio for piano and strings, a mass, psalms and other sacred compositions, symphonies for organ, a large number of piano pieces and many songs.