Fauré, Gabriel

(1845-1924)

   composer

   Born in Pamiers, Gabriel Fauré studied at the Ecole Niedermeyer under camille saint-saëns and is considered also a disciple of Frédéric CHOPiN.From 1866 to 1905, he was organist in a number of churches in Paris, including the Madeleine and saint-sulpice. He became professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire in 1896, where he later served as director (1905-20). His students included maurice ravel and others. With Saint-Saëns, Fauré was instrumental in keeping the French musical tradition in the forefront when the tendency at the time was to adopt the style and technique of German romantic music. Fauré wrote within smaller genres, especially short piano pieces and songs. He excelled in melody, piano, and chamber music. As one of the most eminent representatives of French chamber music, he is considered, along with claude debussy, a founder of a new musical sensibility. A prolific composer, Fauré's works include a series of Mélodies (1868-1900); La bonne Chanson (1891), inspired by the poems of paul verlaine; La Chanson d'Eve (1916); La Requiem (1887); four Valses caprices (1883-1894); six Impromptus (1884-1913); 13 Nocturnes (1883-22); 13 Barcarolles (1883-1921); and nine Préludes (1910).