Marie-Claire Alain was a French organist, music critic, and teacher. She was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on August 10, 1926. She was the daughter of Albert Alain and the sister of Jean Alain and Olivier Alain.
Alain graduated from the Paris Conservatory in 1950. She studied with Marcel Dupré, took piano lessons with Yves Nat, and studied harmony with Maurice Duruflé. That year, she won second prize at the Geneva International Music Competition; no first prize was awarded.
Alain was among the world’s most prolific recording organists. She recorded the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach three times, between 1959 and 1968, 1975 and 1978, and 1986 and 2003. She also recorded the complete organ works of Dietrich Buxtehude, receiving a special prize from the city of Lübeck, and the organ works of César Franck. Her recordings also included music by her father and brother. She recorded her father’s works on the organ in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on which he had played throughout his life. In total, she made more than 260 recordings and gave over 2,500 concerts.
Alain was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor and of the Order of Arts and Letters, and received honorary doctorates from several universities. In 1980, she received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize. She died in Paris on February 26, 2013.