Son of the composer Albert Alain and brother of the famous organist Marie-Claire Alain, the French composer and organist Jehan Alain left a fascinating body of music for piano and for organ, much of it published after his premature death in action in 1940. A pupil of Marcel Dupré, Paul Dukas and Roger-Ducasse, Alain wrote music of originality within the French tradition to which he belonged.

Organ Music

Jehan Alain’s music for organ, collected for publication in 1943 in three volumes, contains music of profound religious inspiration. It also explores the traditional forms of prelude, fugue, fantasy and variations.

Piano Music

Alain’s music for piano was again published posthumously in three volumes, in 1944, and is similar in inspiration to his organ music.