René Alix

French composer and chorus master, born 14 September 1907, Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France - died 30 December 1966, Orly, France. Born in Sotteville-lès-Rouen, René Alix studied music in Rouen with Marcel Lanquetuit, in Paris with Georges Caussade and Albert Bertelin. He was organist at the Saint-Michel church of Le Havre from 1929 to 1939. In 1945, he directed the Choeurs de la R.T.F., then in 1954 he was appointed director of the École César Franck. The author of a reference musical grammar, he wrote piano and organ pieces, masses, one string quartet, melodies, symphonic poems (Les Revenants, Danses, Confidences), and an oratorio, Les Saintes Heures de Jeanne d'Arc (1954).