| Description: | Charles-Alexis Chauvet (7 June 1837 – 29 January 1871) was born in Marines, Charles-Alexis Chauvet made his debut at the organ of St. Remi church in Marines, only 11 years old. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris at the age of 13 to study organ with François Benoist (1st Prize of organ in 1860) and music composition with Ambroise Thomas, of which he became assistant in composition class. In 1860, he was appointed to the choir organ of the Église Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin (Paris), then to the great organ the following year. He then appeared in the gallery of the Church of Saint-Bernard de la Chapelle where he inaugurated the organ in 1863, at Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, then at Saint-Merri in 1866. Finally, he was appointed titular organist of the new Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in 1869, a position he held until his premature death at the age of 34 years of tuberculosis.
Renowned for its interpretations of J. S. Bach and his improvisations, he was also regularly invited to participate in the inauguration of organs in Paris, with Édouard Batiste, César Franck and Camille Saint-Saëns. A gifted and refined musician, he is considered one of the most brilliant composers for the organ with his friend César Franck who dedicated him his Fantasy in C major for organ Op. 16.
Henri Maréchal said of him: "In terms of the mechanism, Chauvet was an accomplished virtuoso; moreover, his personal way of understanding the text was that of a superior intelligence."
The heroic "Grand Chœur" is the 7th of the "20 Célèbres pièces" published in 1863. All the elements of French romanticism are present, but there is still a sense of freshness about this. A spirit of the Napoleonic era seems to be present here!
The score (beginning on page 28) is attached below, as well as a photo of Charles-Alexis Chauvet, and an excellent period photo of the Église de la Sainte-Trinité Paris where Chauvet was titular organist from 1869 to 1871.
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