He was appointed titular organist at the Basilica of St Denis in St Denis (near Paris) in 1987.[6] He was succeeded in June 2018 by his student Quentin Guérillot.[7]
Between 1978 and 1990, he won five international organ competitions:
1978: First Prize at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Lyon
1987: Grand Prix at the Concours Européen d'Orgue in Beauvais
1989: First Prize at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Strasbourg
1989: Grand Prix at the Concours International d'Improvisation in Montbrison
1990: Grand Prix in improvisation at the Concours de Chartres[8]
As a composer, he has published an Ave Maria for mixed choir a capella (Lyon: À coeur joie, 2013), En Louisiane for trombone and piano (Sampzon: Delatour France, 2004), and Prologue et Noël varié for organ (Sampzon: Delatour France, 2007). In November 2017, three motets (Pater Noster; Ave Maria; Ave Verum), published with A coeur joie editions[11] received their premiere performance at the Basilica of St. Denis.
He gave more than 1000 concerts and recitals all around the world (France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Canada, USA, South Africa...).[12]
Pincemaille died on 12 January 2018, at the local hospital in Suresnes, of lung cancer, aged 61.[13][14][15]
After his death, some events were given in memoriam, like concerts or radio broadcasts.[16]
Discography
Pierre Pincemaille recorded around twenty CDs, among which:
Complete organ work of César Franck (Motette 12541)
Complete organ work of Maurice Duruflé (Solstice SOCD 231–232)
Völker, Elke: "Der Reiz perfekter Illusion. Ein Interview mit dem Pariser Organisten und Starimprovisator Pierre Pincemaille" (Organ – Journal für die Orgel 1, no. 1 (1998): 18–21).
Pincemaille, Pierre: L'improvisateur à Notre-Dame. In: Pierre Cochereau: Témoignages, ed. Yvette Carbou. Bourg-la-Reine: Zurfluh, 1999, 271–339. ISBN2-87750-087-X.
Pincemaille, Pierre: L'improvisateur à Notre-Dame. In: Pierre Cochereau: Un art d'illusioniste, ed. Yvette Carbou. Sampzon: Delatour France, 2014, 263–338. ISBN978-2-7521-0124-2.
Pierre Pincemaille was also involved in the DVD "The genius of Cavaille Coll" (BBC Music Magazine Awards 2014).[18]