1889

• César Franck invites Vierne to become his pupil at the Paris Conservatory.

• Vierne is present for the première (on piano) of Franck's Three Chorales for organ, with the composer himself at the keyboard.

1890

• On evening in June Franck, while riding in a carriage which is hit by a bus in a Paris street, is seriously injuried in the right side, yet does not seek medical attention that evening. Later that year (October) he comes down with a cold which takes a severe turn for the worse, and he dies on November 11.

1892

• Vierne becomes Widor's assistant at the Church of St-Sulpice.

1893

• Allegretto

1893

• A special commission is appointed to reform the curriculum at the Conservatory. Vincent d'Indy's plan is rejected.

1894

• The Schola Cantorum (later Ecole César Franck) is established by d'Indy, Charles Bordes, and Alexandre Guilmant.

• String Quartet, in D minor and other works. A very productive year for composing.

1894-96

• Vierne becomes Widor's teaching-assistant at the Paris Conservatory.

1898

• Vierne accompanies Widor on concert tour of Germany.

1898-99

• Symphonie no.1, dedicated to Alexandre Guilmant.

1899

• Marriage to Arlette Taskin at the Church of St-Sulpice. Widor is organist for the ceremony.

1900

• The organist of Notre-Dame-de-Paris, Sargent, dies of cancer in March. An open competition is announced to find his successor, and fifty able candidates apply for the post. Following the final round of the competition May 21, Vierne is selected as the new resident organist (titulaire).

• Note: Somewhere, this number was mistakenly said to have been 500 (Fr. 'cinq cents' versus 'cinquante') - an error now widely perpetuated in CD liner notes.

• High Mass for 4 voices and 2 organs

1902-03

• Symphonie no.2

1903-04

• Praxinoë, symphonic legend for solo vocalists, chorus, and orchestra.