Achille Philip

Achille Philip, (born October 12, 1878, Arles - November 12, 1959, Béziers) was a French organist and composer.

A pupil of the Conservatoire de Marseille in 1888, Philip won the first prize for solfeggio in 1894, piano in 1896 and harmony in 1898. In October 1898, Philip entered the Conservatory of Paris where he studied organ with Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911) and composition with Charles Lenepveu (1840-1910). Philip won first prize in counterpoint and fugue in 1904.

From 1904 to 1913 Philip was the organist of the choir of the Madeleine church in Paris. From 1904 to 1950 he was professor of organ and harmony at the Schola Cantorum in Paris . Philip also presided over the organs of:

On August 3, 1935, Philip created Bacchus at the Théâtre des Arenes in Béziers. In 1950, he settled in Béziers where he was appointed on March 31, 1957, as the organist of the Basilique Saint-Aphrodise.

Philip married the singer Marthe Legrand with whom he founded the "Quatuor Français". After the death of his wife, he married Louise Gant

Also: 45 motets, 3 masses, 30 melodies