Suzanne Chaisemartin

Suzanne Henriette Madeleine Chaisemartin (7 February 1921 - 8 July 2017)^[1][2] was a French church and concert organist and pedagogue who was often considered to be one of the best organists of her generation.

Born in Choisy-le-Roi to Jean, an architect father; and Madeleine (née Célerier), a pianist mother, she received initial instruction in piano from her older sister (who received the First Prize in piano in Yves Nat's class). She continued with Madame Chaumont, while obtaining a 1st medal in solfège in Madame Massait's class at the Conservatoire de Paris.

She was introduced to Marcel Dupré in 1939, and she studied privately with him before winning a first prize for organ and improvisation at the Conservatoire in Paris in 1947.^[3]

As soon as she finished her studies, Chaisemartin began a career as a concert performer, which took her all over Europe and the United States. She gave more than 900 organ recitals, and also received an appointment as a soloist at Radio France.

In 1949 she was appointed as titular organist of the grand Barker/Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Église Saint-Augustin de Paris,^[3] succeeding André Fleury, she was appointed an honorary fellow after her retirement in 1997.

At the beginning of her career, she served as a substitute organist for Dupré, who often went on concerts around France and the world, at his organ at Saint-Sulpice in Paris

After serving as a substitute from 1955 to 1971 for Rolande Falcinelli at the Conservatoire de Paris, she became an assistant professor from until 1986.^[3] She also taught at the École normale de musique de Paris (1956) and the Conservatoire de Dijon [fr] from 1971 to 1989.

Chaisemartin died in Paris at the age of 96.

• Chevalier of the Legion of honour
• Chevalier of the National Order of Merit
• Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
• Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes académiques

Chaisemartin has made numerous recordings devoted mainly to Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Guilmant, Widor, Gigout, Dupré and Langlais.

• Pierre-François Dub-Attenti and Hubert Bouet, "Suzanne Chaisemartin : interprète et pédagogue", L'Orgue, n°294/2011, (100 p.)
• Pâris, Alain (1995). interprétation musicale au XXe siècle. Bouquins8064-1 (in French). Paris: Éditions Robert Laffont. ISBN 2-221-08064-5. OCLC 34515574.

• France Orgue Discography by Alain Cartayrade.
• YouTube Suzanne Chaisemartin (87) at St-Sulpice in 2008, Finale of Widor's Symphonie Gothique.
• YouTube Suzanne Chaisemartin alongside Daniel Roth at St-Sulpice, Paris, 20 January 2008.
• Orgues de France Le grand orgue de Saint-Augustin à Paris.