A pupil of Dukas and of Marcel Dupré, the French organist Jean Langlais had his earlier training at the Institution des Jeunes Aveugles (Institution for the Young Blind), where he later taught. He was appointed organist at Ste Clotilde in Paris in 1945 and had a career as a concert performer.

Organ Music

The organ music of Jean Langlais reflects his profound religious faith and makes frequent use of Gregorian chant as its basis. He wrote organ symphonies, suites, meditations on the liturgy, and voluntaries in addition to works scored for organ with other instruments.

Choral Music

Church music by Langlais includes settings of the Mass, notably the Mass Salve Regina, the Mass Orbis Factor and the Missa in simplicitate, as well as Psalms for four voices, chorus, organ, brass and timpani. His Canticle of the Sun, written in 1968, is scored for soprano and mezzo-soprano soloists and organ.