Rene Guillou

Rene Guillou was born on 8 October 1903 in Rennes (France). From an early age he showed extraordinary musical talent: already as a child he attracted attention as a prodigy, and at the age of seven he was described in contemporary musical journals as both a virtuoso pianist and a remarkably gifted young composer who was already writing piano pieces, chamber works, and sacred music. He received his first formal education at the conservatory of his native city, and later continued his musical training at the Conservatoire de Paris. There he studied under Marcel Samuel-Rousseau, Charles-Marie Widor, and Henri Busser. His academic achievements culminated in 1926, when he won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome with the cantata "L’Autre mère".
Alongside his studies, Guillou began an active professional life at a young age. From 1920 he served as organist at the great organ of the Church of Notre-Dame in Versailles, succeeding Jacques de La Presle. In 1923 he performed the organ part in a presentation of Jules Massenet’s oratorio Marie-Madeleine at the same church. After receiving the Prix de Rome, he relinquished this post in 1926 to take up his residence in Rome, where he remained until 1930. During his Italian period he composed extensively, producing orchestral works, chamber music, songs, and important compositions such as the Habanera for violin and orchestra, as well as two symphonies.
Following his return to France, Guillou pursued a multifaceted career as composer, pianist, and accompanist. His works were performed at notable musical events, including the French Music Festival in Monte Carlo in 1935. Over the following decades he continued composing orchestral, chamber, piano, vocal, and organ works, gradually establishing himself within French musical life, even though he remained less publicly prominent than some of his contemporaries.
Rene Guillou died on 14 December 1958 in Paris (France).

In my possession are three music autograph manuscripts by Rene Guillou:

• Neige..., for voice and organ (1942, text by B. de Geofroy)
• Improvisation, for flute and piano
• beginning of the final movement of his symphony