Jehan Alain was born into a family of musicians, with his father Albert Alain also being a composer and organist. Jehan started playing the organ at the age of 11 and later studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur where he learned from Marcel Dupré and Paul Dukas. He received first prizes in various subjects including harmony, counterpoint, fugue, and composition. Alain became the organist at Maisons-Laffitte in 1936 but unfortunately died young at the age of 29 while defending Saumur. He left behind a wife and three children, including Marie-Claire Alain. It is said that some pages of his manuscript were blown away after his death and picked up by peasant children. Alain's last works for the organ, the 'Trois Danses', including the second movement called 'Deuils', were a premonition of his tragic fate.
