The Canadian organist Philip Crozier had the privilege of studying privately with the legendary André Marchal between 1978 and 1980 — an experience that proved deeply formative. These sessions offered rich insights into repertoire and interpretation, capturing Marchal’s artistry and wisdom in his own voice. Held at Marchal’s home in Paris, the lessons were recorded by Crozier on cassette, with Marchal’s daughter Jacqueline present to provide instantaneous translations from French to English. Now, 45 years after Marchal’s passing, these historic recordings are being released to honor and preserve his teaching legcy. Read the introduction to these recorded lessons with André Marchal by Philip Crozier.

The house organ of André Marchal

The organ at rue Duroc in Paris was originally meant to be an instrument for daily practice: two manuals and pedal, built by Gütschenritter. As years went by, my father’s repertoire increased, as did his ambitions and the number of friends who came to hear him. Thus, Marchal had a three-manual concert organ built in his studio. This expansion was achieved gradually, each step coinciding with his return home after international tours. In 1934, the pedal action was replaced by an electric one, allowing with the addition of 24 pipes the extension of the soubasse to 32′ acoustical, 16′, 8′, 4′, and 2′. After the end of World War II, Victor Gonzalez took over and some modifications that were reflective of the aesthetics of Marchal and Gonzalez took place. In 1954, the Marchals enlarged the studio and the organ, original chests and tracker action were preserved and a third manual, an unenclosed Positif, was added, the manual placed underneath the Great and connected to its chest by electric action. On that occasion, the organ was named “Phillipe-Emmanuel”. Source The photos are of Marchal at his house organ, before and after the enlargement in the 1950s.