Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély
Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély
Genres: organ, french, composer, Classical, 19th century
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About Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély
Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély (November 13, 1817, Paris – December 31, 1869, Paris) was a French organist and composer. Lefébure-Wély played a major role in the development of the French symphonic organ style and was a close friend of the organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, inaugurating many new Cavaillé-Coll organs. He began to study music aged 4 with his father, who was the organist of Saint-Roch. By the age of 8 he was advanced enough to substitute for his father when he was stricken by paralysis. When his father died six years later (in 1831), he became the church's regular organist (where he remained until 1846). In 1832 he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, studying the organ under Francois Benoist, and the piano under Laurent and Pierre Zimmermann. His ability on both instruments won him second prizes in 1834, and first prizes in 1835. His composition teachers were Berton and Halévy. He also took private lessons from Adolphe Adam. He learned much of organ effects and improvisation from the celebrated Nicolas Séjan at Saint-Sulpice. His own fame as an improviser dates from his acceptance of the post of Organist at the Église de la Madeleine, which he held from 1847-1858. Then, after five years chiefly devoted to further study of composition, he succeeded Séjan at Saint-Sulpice in 1863, where he remained until his death six years later in 1869, aged 52. He was succeeded by Widor. Due to his exceptionnal pedal technique, is the dedicatee of the 12 Études pour les pieds seulement (12 Studies for organ pedals alone) by Charles-Valentin Alkan and of the Final en Si Bémol for organ, op. 21, by César Franck. Lefébure-Wély is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. His most celebrated compositions are probably the Sorties in E-flat and B-flat major for organ. He also wrote about fifty etudes and a hundred character pieces for the piano, and also many works for the organ and harmonium. Larger scale works include 3 masses (two with organ, one with orchestra), three symphonies, chamber music, and a three-act opera Les Recruteurs which was produced at the Opéra Comique in 1861.
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