André Raison (* around 1640 in Nanterre; † 1719 in Paris) was a French organist and
composer.
Raison was educated at the seminary of the Church Sainte-Geneviève in Nanterre where he also received the position as organist. He also became an organist at the Jesuit church located in the ''rue
Saint-Jacques'' in Paris. He was considered at the end of the 17th century as the best organist in the city.
Johann Sebastian Bach adopted a musical theme by Raison for his famous ''Passacaglia and Fugue in C-minor'' (BWV 582)
Raison left behind two collections of organ works of which the first was published in 1688 and the second in 1714. The two collections included five organ masses in various ecclesiastical modes,
''Noëls variés'' (arrangements and variations on traditional Christmas songs) a ''Magnificat'' and various other pieces.
Source: Wikipedia 04/19/2017
Note: Translated from the German version into English.
