Maxime Jacob

Jacob studied at the Paris Conservatory with Charles Koechlin and André Gedalge; an admirer of Darius Milhaud and Erik Satie, he was a member of the École d'Arcueil, a group of young composers sponsored by Satie after his rupture with his previous group of protégés, Les Six. Other members of this short-lived group included Henri Cliquet-Pleyel, Henri Sauguet and Roger Désormière.

In 1927, Jacob worked with Antonin Artaud at the Théâtre Alfred Jarry composing the score for his production of Ventre brûlé; ou La Mère folle (1927).^[1]:252

In 1929, Jacob converted from Judaism to Catholicism (influenced by Jacques Maritain) and became a Benedictine monk at En-Calcat Abbey.^[2] He would go on to study organ with Maurice Duruflé, as well as Gregorian chant.

Jacob also published two books, L'art et la grâce (1939) and Souvenirs a deux voix (1969).

In the English-speaking world, his hymn tune "Living God" in 77.77 meter with 77.77 refrain, used for I Received the Living God (J'ai reçu le Dieu vivant),^[3] is well known.

Vocal

• Par la Taille (opera, after Alfred Jarry)
• Le Vitrail de Sainte-Thérèse (oratorio, 1952)
• Joinville et Saint-Louis (oratorio, after Péguy, 1971)
• Les psaumes pour tous les temps (1966)
• ca. 400 stage songs

Orchestral

• Ouverture (1923)
• Piano Concerto, 1961

Chamber music

• 8 string quartets

Miscellaneous

• Piano pieces for Clément Doucet
• Livre d'orgue (1967)