Widor, Charles-Marie

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) was a French composer, organist and teacher, best known for his organ symphonies. Widor is considered one of the most important organ composers of the 19th century. He served as organist at the Saint-Sulpice Church in Paris, where he played the famous Aristide Cavaillé-Coll organ for more than 60 years. His works include ten organ symphonies, the most famous of which is the Fifth Symphony with its iconic final movement, the "Toccata". This piece has become an iconic piece of organ repertoire and is often played on celebration occasions around the world. Widor was also an important teacher, with Marcel Dupré and Olivier Messiaen among his students. In addition to organ music, he also composed orchestral and vocal works. His innovative approach laid the foundations of the modern French organ school and influenced generations of musicians.