Guillou was born in Angers . Following his first studies in piano and organ, he became organist at the church St. Serge in Angers at the age of 12. He studied then at the Paris Conservatoire under Marcel Dupré, Maurice Duruflé and Olivier Messiaen . In 1955, he accepted a position as professor of organ and composition at the Institute of Sacred Music in Lisbon . In 1958 he moved to Berlin, where he lived for the following five years, during which he composed and premiered his first works. In 1963 he returned to Paris, having been appointed Titular Organist at Saint Eustache church in succession to André Marchal . Appointed Organiste Titulaire Emerite at St. Eustache in September 2014, Guillou completed 52 years as organist of that church in March 2015, when he was succeeded by two co-titulaires.
He has a worldwide reputation as a concert organist and improviser. Additionally, he often performs as a pianist; for example, he gave the English and French premieres of Julius Reubke 's neglected piano Sonata in B-flat minor.
Guillou's engagement in organ building led to collaborations with several organ builders and the construction of new instruments in l'Alpe d'Huez( F) (1978, Kleuker), in the Chant d'Oiseau church in Brussels (1981, Kleuker), in the Zürich's Tonhalle (1988, Kleuker-Steinmeyer) in the Conservatory of Naples (2006, Tamburini-Zanin) in the Auditorio de Tenerife (2005, Blancafort) and most recently in the San Antonio dei Portoghesi church in Rome (2008, Mascioni) and in the Cathedral of Leon in Spain (2013, Klais).
He has composed over 90 works - for organ, chamber and orchestral music - as well as numerous transcriptions for organ, mainly published bu Schott -Music. In addition, he has issued more than 100 recordings (Philips, Dorian, Festivo, Decca, Augure among others) including the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach , César Franck , Robert Schumann , numerous historical improvisations (e.g., Visions Cosmiques - 1969, or Jeux d'orgue - 1970, both re-edited in 2010 by Universal-Decca), as well as most of his own organ compositions on a series of 7 CDs (2010) for the Universal - Decca label.
From 1970-2005, Guillou taught organ performance and improvisation at the annual Züricher Interational Meisterkurse . Since 2007, these masterclasses have been held at St. Eustache in Paris, France. Among his former pupils : Bernhard Haas, Francesco Filidei , Yanka Hekimova, Livia Mazzanti, Leonid Karev and Zsuzsa Elekes , Jean-Baptiste Monnot In July 2015 he was appointed Professor honoris causa at the Saar's Hochschule für Musik.
Fantaisie op. 1 (1954. Mainz : Schott, 2005)18 Variations op. 3 (1956. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Sinfonietta op. 4 (1958/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Ballade Ossianique No. 1 ("Temora") op. 8 (1962/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Toccata op. 9 (1953. Mainz: Schott, 2004)6 Sagas op. 20 (1970. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Ballade Ossianique No. 2 ("Les Chants de Selma") op. 23 (1971/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)La Chapelle des Abîmes op. 26 (1973. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Scènes d'enfants op. 28 (1974. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Jeux d'Orgue op. 34 (1978. Vienna: Universal Edition, 1984)Suite pour Rameau op. 36 (1979. Boston, MA: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1994)Saga No. 7 op. 38 (1983. Vienna: Universal Edition, 1984)Sonate en Trio No 1 op. 40 (1984. Paris: Durand, 1985)Chamades ! op. 41 (1984. USA: H. T. FitzSimons, 1984)Impromptu for pedal solo op. 42 (1985. Vienna: Universal Edition, 1988)Hypérion ou la Rhétorique du Feu op. 45 (1988. Boston, MA: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1996)Säya ou l'Oiseau Bleu op. 50 (1993. Mainz: Schott, 2004)Éloge op. 52 (1994. Boston, MA: Wayne Leupold Editions, 1995)Alice au pays de l'orgue for organ and narrator op. 53 (1995. Mainz: Schott, 1998)Pensieri pour Jean Langlais op. 54 (1995. USA: H. T. FitzSimons, 1996)Instants op. 57 (1998. Mainz: Schott, 2015)Pièces furtives op. 58 (1998. Mainz: Schott, 2000)Hymnus op. 72 (2008. Mainz: Schott, 2009)Regard op. 77 (2011. Mainz: Schott, 2013)Enfantines op. 81 (2013. Mainz: Schott, 2015)Sonate en Trio No 2 op. 82 (2013. Mainz: Schott, 2014)Sonate en Trio No 3 op. 83 (2013. Mainz: Schott, 2014)Macbeth - Le lai de l'Ombre op. 84 (2009. Mainz: Schott, 2016)Psyche op. 87 (2016)Organ with / and other instruments Colloque No. 2 for Organ and Piano, op. 11 (1964/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)L'Infinito for Bass and Organ, op. 13 (1965. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Intermezzo for Flute and Organ, op. 17 (1969. Mainz: Schott, 2008)Symphonie Initiatique for 3 Organs, op. 18 (1969) - Vers. for 2 organs (1990, Vers. for 4 hands and feet (2009. Mainz: Schott, 2016) Colloque No. 5 for Organ and Piano, op. 19 (1969/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Sonate for Trumpet / Violin and Organ , op. 25 (1972)Concerto for Violin and Organ op. 37 (1982)Andromède for Soprano and Organ, op. 39 (1984. Mainz: Schott, 2007)Peace for mixed Choir (8 voices) and Organ, op. 43 (1985.Mainz : Schott, 2012)Aube for mixed Choir (12 voices) and Organ, op. 46 (1988. Mainz : Schott, 2016)Colloque No. 6 for Organ and two Percussionists, op. 47 (1989)Fantaisie concertante for Violoncello and Organ, op. 49 (1991. Mainz: Schott)Fête for Clarinet and Organ, op. 55 (1995. Mainz: Schott, 2008)Écho for Flute, Clarinet, String quintet, Choir, Piano and Organ, op. 60 (1999. Mainz: Schott)Concerto for Trumpet and Organ - Ebauche d'un souffle - op. 64 (1985. Mainz: Schott, 2016)Colloque No. 7 (concerto for Piano and Organ), op. 66 (1998. Mainz: Schott, 2011.)Colloque No. 8 for Marimba and Organ, op. 67 (2002. Mainz: Schott, 2008)La Révolte des Orgues for eight portative organs, great organ, and percussion, op. 69 (2005. Mainz: Schott, 2007)Colloque No. 9 for organ and pan flute, op. 71 (2008. Mainz: Schott, 2009)Répliques for a Great Organ and a Positiv Organ, op. 75 (2009, Mainz: Schott, 2011)Ihr Himmel, Luft und Wind for 8 voices Choir, op. 76 (2010, Mainz: Schott, 2010)Colloque N. 10 for 7 trumpets, organ and percussion, op. 86 (2016, Mainz: Schott, 2016)Inventions for Organ and chamber orchestra (Organ concerto No. 1), op. 7 (1960. Mainz: Schott)Tryptique for string orchestra, won (1965. Paris: Leduc)Concerto héroïque for Organ and orchestra (Organ concerto No. 2), op. 10 (1963/revised 2005. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Le Jugement Dernier : Oratorio for choir, soloists, organ and orchestra (1965. Paris: Leduc)Organ Concerto No. 3 for Organ and string orchestra, op. 14 (1965. Mainz: Schott)Colloque No. 4 for Organ, Piano and two Percussionists, op. 15 (1966. Mainz: Schott, 2006)Piano Concerto No. 1 for Piano and orchestra, op. 16 (1969. Paris: Leduc)Judith Symphonie for Mezzo-soprano and orchestra op. 21 (1970. Mainz : Schott)Symphony No. 2 for String orchestra op. 27 (1974. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Symphony No. 3 ("La Foule") for large orchestra and 2 guitars op. 30 (1977)Organ Concerto No. 4 for Organ and orchestra, op. 31 (composed in 1978)Concerto Grosso for Orchestra op. 32 (1978/2008)Organ Concerto No. 5 ("Roi Arthur") for Organ and Brass quintet, op. 35 (1979. Mainz: Schott)Piano Concerto No. 2 for Piano and orchestra op. 44 (1986. Mainz: Schott)Trombone Concerto for Trombone (solo), 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 3 tubas and two percussionists op. 48 (1990. Mainz: Schott)Fantaisie concertante for Violoncello and Orchestra, op. 49 (1991-2016. Mainz: Schott, 2016)Missa Interrupta for Soprano, Organ, Brass quintet, Percussion and Choir, op. 51 (1995. Mainz: Schott)Fête for Clarinet and orchestra, op. 55 (1995)Concerto 2000 for Organ and orchestra, op. 62, (2000. Mainz: Schott)Concerto for Trumpet and Organ ("L'Ébauche d'un souffle"), op. 64 (1985. Mainz: Schott)Organ Concerto No. 6 for Organ and Orchestra, op. 68 (2002. Mainz: Schott)Organ Concerto No. 7 for Organ and Orchestra, op. 70 (2006. Mainz: Schott, 2007)Stabat Mater for Organ, Soli and Orchestra, op. 85 (1980)Colloque No. 1 for Flute, oboe, violin and piano op. 2 (1956. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Sonate No. 1 for Piano op. 5 (1958. Paris: Éditions Musicales Amphion, 1974)Cantilia for Piano, Harp, Timpani and 4 Celli op. 6 (1960. Mainz: Schott)Toccata (piano version) op. 9b ( 1962. Mainz: Schott)Colloque No. 3 for Oboe, Harp, Celesta, Percussion, 4 Celli and 2 double Basses op. 12 (1964. Mainz: Schott)Quatuor for Oboe and string quartet op. 22 (1971.Schott 2016)Cantiliana for Flute (or violin) and piano op. 24 (1972. Schott 2014)Poème de la Main for Lyric soprano and piano op. 29 (1975.Mainz: Schott, 2016)Sonate No. 2 for Piano op. 33 (1978)Deux Pièces : Nocturne et Impromptu for Piano op. 56 (1967. Mainz : Schott, 2015)Trio for 3 Violoncelli (excerpt from Diderot à corps perdu ) op. 59 (1999)Augure for Piano op. 61 (1999. Mainz: Schott, 2005)Co-incidence for Violin solo, op. 63 (1996. Mainz: Schott, 2010)Epitases for pedal piano ("Double Piano Borgato"), op. 65 (2002. Mainz: Schott.) and Version for 2 pianos)Chronique for Percussion Trio, op. 73 (2009)Impulso for Flute solo, op. 74 ( 2009. Mainz : Schott, 2015)Poème for 4 hands Piano and Percussion, op. 78 ( 2012. Schott, 2014)Valse Oubliée for Piano, op. 79 ( 2012. Mainz: Schott, 2012)Main menue for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano, op. 80 ( 2012)Pièces brèves pour l'émission "Échappée par le ciel" (Unpublished)Diderot à corps perdu (composed in 1973. Unpublished.)Le Jugement Dernier Oratorio for Soli, Choir, Organ and Orchestra (A. Leduc, 1965)Cadenza for the first movement from Organ Symphony No. 6 by Charles-Marie Widor (Mainz: Schott, 2017)Pensieri pour Claude Bernard (Unpublished)Cadenzas for the Beethoven's Violin ConcertoCadenza for the Mozart's Piano Concerto N. 24 - K. 491Cadenza for the J. S. Bach: Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor BWV 903Cadenzas for the K.Ph.E. Bach Organ Concerti Wq 34 & 35 (Mainz: Schott, 2017)Cadenza for the Mozart's Church Sonata K. 336 (Mainz: Schott, 2017)Johann Sebastian Bach: Musical Offering BWV 1079 (Mainz: Schott, 2005) Johann Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (Unpublished) Johann Sebastian Bach: Sarabande from Partita for lute - BWV 997 (Unpublished) Johann Sebastian Bach: Badinerie from the orchestra suite no. 2 BWV 1067 (Unpublished) Georg Friedrich Händel: 16 Concertos for organ and orchestra (with cadenzas) (Cadenzas : Mainz: Schott, 2017) Georg Friedrich Händel: Alla Hornpipe from "Water Music" (Mainz: Schott, 2014) Franz Liszt: Fantaisie et fugue sur le nom de BACH (syncretic version) (Mainz: Schott, 2005) Franz Liszt: Orpheus (Mainz: Schott, 2005) Franz Liszt: Prometheus (Mainz: Schott, 2008) Franz Liszt: Valse oubliée No. 1 (Mainz: Schott, 2007) Franz Liszt: Psalm XIII (Mainz: Schott, 2009) Franz Liszt: Tasso (Mainz: Schott, 2012) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor K. 546 (Paris: Éditions Musicales Amphion) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio and Rondo in C minor K. 617 (Paris: Éditions Musicales Amphion) Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Mainz: Schott, 2005) Sergei Prokofiev: March from the opera "The Love for three oranges" (Bonn: Robert Forberg) Sergei Prokofiev: Toccata op. 11 (Bonn: Robert Forberg) Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances op. 45 - Version for two organs and for four hands and feet (Mainz: Schott, 2015) Igor Stravinsky: Three dances from "Petrouchka" (Unpublished) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: "Scherzo" from Symphony No. 6 ("Pathétique") (Mainz: Schott, 2006) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker Suite (Mainz: Schott, 2014) Giuseppe Verdi: "Quattro Pezzi Sacri" Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in D major (Paris: Éditions Musicales Amphion) Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor (Mainz: Schott, 2014) 
