What people are saying about this book...
Media Reviews
"The intimate, sometimes anecdotal biographical portrait is a welcome addition to the store of knowledge about 20th-century French music as a whole and this important figure specifically."
— Choice
"Music fans in general will enjoy reading it; organists will love it, and with good reason. This is an absolutely splendid effort."
— Donald E. Metz, American Record Guide
"The book is hard to put down and is readable at a sitting or two."
— Haig Mardirosian, The American Organist
"A hard-to-put-down history of this fascinating musician . . . No organist should miss reading this fascinating study by Labounsky of one of France's exciting composers and performers. Highly recommended."
— Frederick James Kent, Penn Sounds
, Spring 2001
"This is an authorized biography, so full of details that it seems as if the writer could tell us what happened every day. This is a very fine book with a nice sense of flow and clarity. The author beautifully weaves together Langlais’s compositional techniques, his teachers, travels, the musical life of Paris, and the details of a fascinating personal life. Very highly recommended."
— Pastoral Music
"An achievement we should all be delighted to read."
— The Organ, Vol 79 No. 314
"Labounsky’s is the first comprehensive study of [Langlais] in English."
— Benjamin Van Wye, Notes
"This work contains many riches."
— Lawton Posey, Reed Organ Society
, May 28, 2001
"An exhaustively researched biography of a grand virtuoso of twentieth-century music."
— Willis M. Buhle, The Midwest Book Review
"This engrossing work is the product of thorough research. . . . Professor Labounsky has constructed a definitive biography that will enthrall and instruct organists, musicologists, and music historians for many years ahead.
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— James B. Hartman, The Diapason
"A volume which should be on the bookshelf of any organist remotely interested in any of the aspects of life which went to produce the phenomenon that was Jean Langlais."
— Organists' Review (U.K.)
"This biographical study by Labounsky, a Langlais protegee and chair of organ and sacred music at Duquesne University, delves into all facets of his personal and professional life."
— Library Journal
Customer Reviews
Well Researched | April 16, 2001
Reviewer: Crescenzo from America Online
It is well-researched and provides insight about the facets of his personality and life as well as the people in his life which had a profound influence on his music. He certainly comes alive as a complex man; with many paradoxes; religious/spiritual yet sensual, methodical yet creative and free, strong yet very vulnerables at times; all tinged with a good sense of humor. The chapter about the reforms of Vatican II is particularly insightful and informative, about the different movements which involved difficult relations between various camps of church musicians and the clergy. I learned much about the man and his music, each time I reread certain chapters.
Langlais Life and Composition | June 14, 2002
Reviewer: Daniel Tsukamoto from Clinton Township, MI (z5aj@yahoo.com)
Labounsky's description about Langlais's life was very eye-catching, because this man was a composer and performer despite his blindness. Yes, he was born poor... so what? He was just like any other human being. My only suggestion I have for the author is to add more details about his compositions.
An inspiring biography | February 4, 2003
Reviewer: J. P. from Stroudsburg, PA
Very personal, engrossing, and beautifully written. Possibly the most enjoyable and inspiring biography I have ever read.
Good | February 4, 2003
Reviewer: T. S. from Royal Oak, MI
Very well done, except there were some typos and bad spelling.
Great book | February 9, 2003
Reviewer: C. C. from Boynton Beach, FL
He led a fascinating life. Ann Labounsky is an excellent writer.
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