McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Person
Blin, René, 1884-1951
1884-1951
French composer and musician René Blin left law school for the Schola Cantorum where he studied with Joseph Jemain, Guillmant and Vincent d’Indy. In 1904 he was appointed master of the chapel of Saint-André de Montreuil-sous-Bois, and in 1910 he became organist and chapel master of Sainte Élisabeth, a position he held until 1939.Two years later he was appointed holder of the choir organ of Notre-Dame de Paris and he remained there until 1950.
His compositions include a mass for 4 voices with orchestra, modulations for Vespers for the Dead, responses for salutes, melodies, pieces for piano and violin, 2 Toccatas, a funeral march and fugue for large organ.
Blin received the insignia of a knight in the order of Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand at the at the end of his career and returned to his birthplace Somois (Marne) where he died in 1951.