Georges Kriéger

**Marie-Georges Kriéger** *(born 9 November 1885, Poligny, Jura, Franche-Comté - died 7 September 1914, Courbesseaux, Meurthe et Moselle, Lorraine)* was a French organist, composer, and choirmaster of the late French Romantic period.

He is mainly known today for two compositions of his, a "Toccata in E minor" and an "Andante" in A major. His compositions, including these ones, are heavily influenced by his teacher, Eugène Gigout; he was also a pupil of Alexandre Guilmant and Louis Vierne. Aside from these, he also produced transcriptions for piano and organ. However, his premature death, in which died as a martyr in the First World War, and the fact that his teachers and other colleagues have overshadowed him have caused him to become very obscure, even within the organ world.

## Biography

### Early years

Marie-Georges Kriéger was born in his family's residence in Poligny, Jura (France) in the late autumn of 1885, 9 November (Monday); and was the second of four children. His elder brother was Marie-Léon Julien Kriéger (11 February 1879 - 1???); and his younger siblings were a sister, Léonie, and a brother, Gabriel. Their father was Marie-François Joseph Kriéger (c. 1840 - 11 March 1913), a professor of music of German descent who was a pianist and organist; and their mother was Camille Anne Marie-Antoinette Kriéger (née Martin) (30 November 1849 - 4 July 1931); a housewife. His family called him "Georges"; the name "Marie" was given out of respect to the Virgin Mary (and not used).

Kriéger took up an early interest in music and studied piano and music theory under his father. When he was 4 years old in 1890, he was introduced to the pipe organ, of two manuals and pedals, for the first time at the Petit-Séminaire de Vaux-sur-Poligny - this organ was later however destroyed in the Second World War. He was assisted by his father, who played on the pedalboard of the organ - Georges was able to play the manuals with his knees on the organ bench. He immediately became interested in the instrument and later studied organ with his father.

*A family tree will be published later.*

### Student years

In 1905, Kriéger enrolled and later graduated into and from the Prytanée national militaire in La Flèche, France's national military academy.

His father was later able to bring the teenage Kriéger to France's capital city of Paris and introduced him to Prof. Eugène Gigout (titular organist of the Église Saint-Augustin), one of the best-known organists of his day; in order to pursue additional studies in the organ (and composition) as per his own wishes. He was later enrolled into his class at the Paris Conservatoire and later pursued additional studies with Alexandre Guilmant and Louis Vierne; both in organ.

Kriéger lived at 6 Rue Etienne Jodelle (Paris 18ème) with his mother and father during his studies until his marriage.

### La Madeleine

As per Gigout's suggestions, Kriéger later auditioned for the newly-vacant position of *organiste titulaire* of the choir organ of the Église de la Madeleine. It was built in 1843 by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll and recently underwent maintenance in 1900; he was appointed to the position afterwards. As a result of this, he began composing.

As titular organist of the choir organ, his duties were regulated to accompanying and conducting the church choir and playing for services; as well as cooperating with the titular organist of the *grand-orgue*.

His father died on 11 March 1913, much to his and his family's grief. On 6 December of that year, he married his fiancée Jeanne-Gabriel Beligne (16 August 1887-19??), at the town hall of Bois-Colombes. Witnesses to the marriage included family friends, as well as his elder brother Julien, who became a pharmacist. To commemorate this, Gigout dedicated his *Praeludium*, the first of his 12 Pieces pour Orgue to him.

The married couple briefly resided at the Parisian *Rue des Dames* before moving to the *Rue des Mathurins*.

### World War I and death

The First World War broke out in France in 1914 and all able-bodied men above eighteen and below forty-one were drafted into service. This included Kriéger, an army reservist who was at the mere age of 29; he volunteered at the 6th Seine Bureau (75) and bore the registration number *324*. The draft forced him to depart from his pregnant wife, who then moved to live with her widowed mother.

Kriéger was a second-class soldier of the 269th Infantry Regiment and bore the ID number *015466*. On 3 August, he was mobilised to Domgermain. He fought in the Battle of the Trouée de Charmes in Courbesseaux from 24 to 26 August - and was fatally shot. He later died of his wounds on 7 September, Monday, and was declared *mort pour la France*. The French ended up winning the battle against the Germans.

His daughter Jacqueline-Gabrielle Kriéger (later Goldner) was born after his death, on 9 October 1914. Due to her father's death, she was raised by her mother and maternal grandmother.

On 16 June 1916, to commemorate his fallen pupil, Gigout performed Kriéger's Andante at the first wartime *Festival de Musique Français*. This, along with his Toccata in E minor (both dedicated to Gigout) were published a month before his death, by *Maurice Senart & Cie, Paris*. His name was later affixed to a plaque by the grand organ of the Madeleine to commemorate his life and work by his relative, Claude Kriéger. The *Élégie* (22) from Vierne's *24 pieces en style libre* was also rededicated in Kriéger's memory.

He is buried next to his wife, and received a military funeral. They are buried together in Plot 531 at the *Nécropole nationale de Friscati* in Vitrimont (near the place of his death).

## Works

Kriéger's most famous works are the *Toccata in E minor* and *Andante*. Both are for organ/harmonium. In addition, he published numerous transcriptions. They bear heavy influence from his three teachers.