Jean Massin


Jean Massin was a French historian and musicologist. With his wife Brigitte Massin, he is the author of numerous books of history and musicology.

Biography

After studying at the seminary in Rome, Massin remained a Catholic priest until 1952, despite questions about tradition. He was close to Paul Claudel, the theologians Yves Congar and, vicar of the Parish of Saint Séverin. Then he became a critic and musicographer. In collaboration with his wife Brigitte Massin née Toulemonde, he published in the 1950s two reference works of musicology, Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He thus contributed considerably to the renewal of the historiographical approach of composers in France. These two studies were followed by Recherche de Beethoven and, under the joint direction of Jean and Brigitte, Histoire de la musique occidentale. A television program of 14 March 1970 highlighted the originality of the couple's approach to the approach of romantic music, the psychology of the composer and the history of his time.
Director of the series at the "", Jean Massin wrote various historical works among which "Robespierre", "Marat" and "Don Juan: mythe littéraire et musical".
Finally, as a man of letters, Jean Massin directed a voluminous chronological edition of the complete works of Victor Hugo, in 36 volumes which is still a reference for the Hugollian work.

Works