Pierre Cogen, born October 2, 1931, in Paris, France, died June 30. He received his first musical training in a children’s choir conducted by Jehan Revert, the Schola of the Lower Seminary of Paris (1944–1951), and he was its organist at the age of 14. In 1950 Cogen became a pupil of Jean Langlais and would long champion his organ works. Once his high school education was completed, Cogen studied philosophy, pursuing his musical training as well, privately with Jean Langlais (organ) and Jean Lemaire (harmony), at the École César Franck (organ class of Édouard Souberbielle), in the Preparatory Curriculum for Music and Choral Singing Teachers (Eliane Chevalier, Raymond Weber), as well as at the Schola Cantorum (organ class of Jean Langlais, counterpoint and fugue with Yvonne Desportes). He further studied with André Fleury and Pierre Cochereau.
As a founding director of a children’s choir, certified teacher of school music and choral singing, teacher of organ and improvisation, harmony and counterpoint, Cogen gave masterclasses and private lessons. He served several Paris parishes until his appointment in 1976 as organist of the gallery organ at Ste-Clotilde (co-titulaire with Jean Langlais from 1976 to 1987; titulaire from 1988 to 1994). He retired in 1994.
Cogen continued to pursue a career as a recitalist after retirement, performing in numerous countries. Often called upon to perform works by his predecessors at Ste-Clotilde (Franck, Charles Tournemire, Langlais, whose works he sometimes premiered), he has also produced several recordings of their works. As a composer he wrote principally for organ. For more information, see “Pierre Cogen: a French Organist-Composer in the Sainte-Clotilde Tradition,” by Carolyn Shuster Fournier, March 2007, pages 26–29.
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