Born in 1926 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye into a musical family, Marie-Claire Alain (1926-2013) became “Notre Dame de l’Orgue”. Her career was defined by an exceptional work ethic and an unyielding commitment to her craft. Trained initially by her father and later at the Conservatoire National de Paris under masters like Maurice Duruflé and Marcel Dupré, she successfully balanced an “indispensable discipline” with her own natural musical instincts. 

Her professional life was characterised by a relentless and “breathless” pace, where she simultaneously managed massive concert tours (more than 2,500 concerts over 6 decades!), teaching roles, and an extensive recording schedule. This productivity was fuelled by deep joy; she often described her recording sessions as some of the most beautiful days of her life. She possessed a unique ability to record with incredible speed and efficiency - often requiring only three takes - without ever compromising the musical momentum or the emotional intensity of the performance.

As a pioneer, Marie-Claire Alain fundamentally transformed the contemporary history of the organ. As a studio musician, she redefined the instrument’s recorded presence, with a discography of hundreds of recordings and over 4 million albums sold. She steadfastly rejected the “sanitisation” of music through excessive editing, believing instead that recordings must preserve the rhythmic pulsation and melodic inspiration of a living performance. Beyond the studio, she combined rigorous musicological research - often conducted with her brother Olivier and her husband - with an intuitive search for the “emotion at all costs”. Her influence as an educator remains foundational, as she encouraged students to embrace their instinctive side as a guarantee of individual artistry. Her legacy serves as a milestone in a perpetual quest for the absolute and beauty for future generations.

To honour the centenary of her birth, this 53-CD box set celebrates the legacy of Marie-Claire Alain.

The project covers her extensive recording career and aims to reflect the diversity and richness of her many artistic facets, with about a quarter of the collection consisting of first-time releases on CD. It documents the evolution of her interpretive style, spanning from 1954 to 2000, contrasting her pioneering recordings with some of her final, most accomplished performances.  

The collection includes a wide array of works, ranging from the German school, French classics, and romantic and symphonic works, to modern compositions – including the music of her father, Albert, and brother, Jehan – and collaborations with fellow musicians such as Maurice André and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

The title “From Bach to Bach” reflects the fact that J.S. Bach was the backbone and guiding thread of Marie-Claire Alain’s musical life. She performed his works tirelessly in concert and returned to him throughout her recording career, producing three complete cycles. This set includes the third and final cycle, recorded in digital, as well as her earlier, nearly complete collection of “free” pieces (those not part of the chorale repertoire) recordings that predated her integral editions.

This project is curated by Aurélie Decourt-Alain (Marie-Claire’s daughter), the journalist and organ specialist Michel Roubinet, and the organist Pascal Copeaux.

Contents: