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Alexandre LavignacFrench musicologist and music educator
Date of Birth: 21.01.1846
Country:  France |
Content:
- Alexandre Lavignac: French Musicologist and Music Educator
- Education and Career
- Contributions to Music
- Musical Compositions
Alexandre Lavignac: French Musicologist and Music Educator
Alexandre Lavignac was a French musicologist and music educator, best known for his theoretical works. He was born on January 21, 1846, in Paris and passed away on May 28, 1916, in the same city.
Education and Career
Lavignac studied at the Paris Conservatoire under the guidance of pianist and composer Antoine-François Marmontel, organist and composer François Benoist, and opera composer Ambroise Thomas, who served as the head of the conservatoire for over a quarter of a century.
In 1871, Lavignac became a rehearsal pianist at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1875, he became a professor of solfège, and from 1891 to 1915, he taught harmony. Lavignac's notable students included renowned European composers and performers such as Claude Debussy, Vincent d'Indy, Philipp Jarnach, Gabriel Pierné, Amédée Gastoué, Florent Schmitt, and Henri Casadesus.
Contributions to Music
Lavignac's major work, "La musique et les musiciens" (Music and Musicians), was published in 1895. It was an extensive review of musical grammar, its rules, and musical material, and remained in print long after his death. In "La musique et les musiciens," Lavignac provided detailed descriptions of the characteristics and possibilities of each instrument.
In addition to his major work, Lavignac authored several popular music textbooks, including "École de la pédale" (Pedal School, 1889), "Cours complet théorique et pratique de dictée musicale" (Complete Theoretical and Practical Course on Musical Dictation, 1882), and "L'Education Musicale" (Musical Education, 1902). He also wrote an exploration of Wagnerian leitmotifs titled "Le voyage artistique à Bayreuth" (The Artistic Journey to Bayreuth, 1897) and contributed to the creation of the "Encyclopédie de la Musique," a multi-volume publication that spanned almost two decades.
Musical Compositions
Lavignac also composed a number of musical works, but they did not achieve success and were eventually forgotten.
