Gaston Marie Dethier (1875 – 1958) was an American organist, pianist, and composer of Belgian birth.
Early life
Born in Liège, he was the son of organist
Emile Dethier (1849-1933),
[Schrijver, Karel de. Bibliografie der belgische toonkunstenaars sedert 1800. Leuven: Vlaamse, 1958, 152 p.] the brother of violinist
Edouard Dethier, and the uncle of physiologist
Vincent Dethier. He studied at the Royal Conservatory in his native city with Alexandre Guilmant. He was awarded
premiers prix in organ, piano, harmony, and fugue from the conservatory.
In 1886, at just 11 years of age, Dethier was appointed organist at the Église Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur de Liège. He eventually left there to work in the same capacity at the Église Saint-Christophe de Liège.
Relocation to United States
He emigrated to the United States in 1894 where he eventually became a naturalized citizen. He was organist at The Church of St. Francis Xavier from 1894 until 1907. After he left in 1907 the position was filled by Italian organist
Pietro Yon who would eventually become organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Juilliard School
He taught organ on the faculty of the
Juilliard School from 1907 until 1945. Among his notable pupils were
Ray Lev,
Marcelle Martin,
Carl McKinley, Georges-Émile Tanguay, and
Powell Weaver.
Dethier is best remembered today as the composer of a set of Variations on 'Adeste Fideles' (1902) which is occasionally performed today.
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