I took over the organ class in succession to Franck in November 1890; the class had [previously] been taught by the man known as grandfather Benoist, who was organ professor at the Conservatory for countless years without ever having been titular of any church. He had been very good at his task and had excellent musicians in his organ class. He had them improvise, and he certainly attached more importance to performance than to technique.

In those days, professors were appointed by the director upon the presentation of three candidates, in order of merit. Today a vote is taken. After Franck's death, I was thus appointed by Ambroise Thomas, but I can say that no intrigue was involved in this appointment. I had been organist of Saint- Sulpice since 1870, given many concerts, and already published my first eight Organ Symphonies. I was in no way concerned with my appointment.

I first encountered Bach's music at the age of six or seven, and I still have in my library the Nägeli edition, from Basel, which predates that of Richault. He was the first French publisher who dared to publish Bach. He published three volumes of Preludes and Fugues, then three books of Chorales, which he donated to the Conservatory. The volumes of the Preludes and Fugues were put to use, but not the volumes of the Chorales. In this organ class, next to the blower that winded the organ, there was a small cupboard that contained all the school's necessary organ library, including the six Richault books. Strangely enough, the three books of J. S. Bach's Chorales were unknown at the Conservatory at that time; they were not played in competitions or examinations.

I will never forget the impression made on Ambroise Thomas who, whatever people may have said, was a very fine musician. Hearing Henri Libert—today the organist of the Basilica of Saint-Denis—play one of Bach's chorales, he stood dumbfounded, pressing the volume in his hands, and turning it over: “What is this? Why don't we play these Chorales? Could this student play one for us again?” The whole first book of Chorales, which let's admit most members of the jury did not know, was thus played by Libert to their great joy.