Daniel Roth, Organist of Saint Sulpice: Biographical Conversations

Pierre-François Dub-Attenti and Christophe Zerbini+ here offer a fascinating and detailed biography of Daniel Roth, a universally respected and admired French organist, composer, and teacher. The authors chose the interview format in order to help readers gain a fuller sense of this remarkable and influential musician and to allow him to give voice to his thoughts about the art to which he has devoted his life.

This book traces Daniel Roth's personal and professional journey: from Alsace to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, where he was titular organist for 12 years, and finally Saint-Sulpice, where he served for no fewer than 41 years. Roth's explanations help make clear his contributions as a liturgical organist and his lifelong commitment to preserving historic instruments.

Through these interviews, as in his recordings and live performances, Daniel Roth reveals himself as most fundamentally a musician, not "just" an organist. In his view, the performer must always strive to make the organ, this complex mechanical instrument, sing.

The late CHRISTOPHE ZERBINI was a science teacher and a devoted supporter of the Association for the Prestige and Promotion of the Cavaillé-Coll Organs of Saint-Sulpice (Paris).

PIERRE-FRANÇOIS DUB-ATTENTI is an attorney, organist, and, since 2017, president of the Association for the Prestige and Promotion of the Cavaillé-Coll Organs in Saint-Sulpice (Paris).