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Jean Langlais was born in La Fontenelle ( Ille-et-Vilaine, Britanny), a small village near Mont St Michel. Langlais turned blind while only two years old, and was sent to study at the National Institute for the Young Blind in Paris, where he began to study the organ. From there, he progressed to the Paris Conservatoire, obtaining prizes in both organ, which he studied with Marcel Dupré, composition which he studied with Paul Dukas, and improvisation, which he studied with André Marchal .

After graduating, he returned the National Institute for the Young Blind to teach, and also taught at the Schola Cantorum from 19611961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first "upside-down" year i. one that looked the same upside down since 1881, and the last until 6009. Events January January 1 The farthing coin, used since the 13th century, cease until 19761976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 12 UN Security Council votes 11-1 to admit the Palestinian Liberation Organization January 15 Would-be Gerald Ford presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore is s. However, it is as an organist that he made his name, following in the steps of Cesar Franck as principal organist at the Basilica of Sainte Clotilde in Paris in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II:, a post in which he remained until 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train. He was much in demand as a concert organist, and toured widely across EuropeFor the band of the same name, see Europe (band . Europe is a continent forming the westermost part of the Eurasian supercontinent. Europe is bounded to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the Mediterranean Se and the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in.

Langlais was a prolific composer, composing 254 works with opus numbersOpus is a Latin word which means "work" (in the sense of "a work of art"). Some composers' musical pieces are identified by opus numbers which generally run either in order of composition or in order of publication. The usual abbreviation is "Op. WoO" sta, the first of which was his Prelude and Fugue for organ of 1927, the last Trio, another organ piece in 1990. Although best known as a composer of organ music and sacred choral music, he also composed a number of instrumental and chamber works, and some secular song settings.

Langlais’ music is written in a late, free tonal style, representative of mid- 20th Century French music, with rich and complex harmonies and overlapping modes, more tonal than his contemporary and countryman Olivier Messiaen. His best known works include his four part masses, Messe Solenelle, Missa Orbis Factor and Missa Salve Regina, his Mouevement Perpetuel for piano, and the variations on the Veni Creator Spiritus for organ.

Outside music, Langlais was a colourful and charismatic character, for many years living with both his first wife and his mistress and later to become second wife, and fathering a child at the age of 73.

Langlais died in Paris aged 84, and was survived by his second wife Marie-Louise Jacquet-Langlais.