Jehan Alain

French organist and composer

Jehan Alain was a French organist and composer who made significant contributions to the organ repertoire in the early 20th century. Born on February 3, 1911, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he came from a family of musicians which greatly influenced his path in music. Alain studied at the Paris Conservatoire and was taught by renowned teachers such as Marcel Dupré and Paul Dukas. His career, though tragically short due to his death in battle during World War II in 1940, was marked by a prolific output of compositions that showcased his unique style blending Gregorian chant influences, modal harmonies, and exotic rhythms.