Nicolas De Grigny

Baroque French Organ Composer

Nicolas de Grigny (1672–1703) was a French organist and composer of the Baroque era. Despite his short life, he left a significant mark on the organ music repertoire with his only surviving publication, "Premier livre d'orgue" (First Organ Book), which contains a collection of organ pieces that are highly regarded for their complexity and rich contrapuntal texture. De Grigny's work was held in high esteem by many, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who copied the entire book for his own study. De Grigny's music is characterized by its intricate ornamentation and the use of the French classical organ's registration possibilities. His compositions are considered some of the finest examples of French Baroque organ music and continue to influence organists and composers to this day.