Albert Roussel

Albert Roussel , 1869-1937, French composer, studied with Vincent D'Indy. His early works show the influence of impressionism. With the symphonic poem Pour une fête de printemps (1920) and his Second Symphony (1919-21) he achieved a highly personal style marked by subtlety of melodic inflection, sharp dissonance, and contrapuntal agility. He wrote operas, ballets, four symphonies, chamber and vocal works, and music for piano. Best known are the suites from his ballets The Spider's Feast (1913) and Bacchus and Ariadne (1931).

Roussel, Albert (Charles Paul Marie) (b Tourcoing, 1869; d Royan, 1937). Fr. composer. Despite showing mus. tendencies as a child, began career as naval officer, his service in Indo-China leaving profound impression. Resigned commission 1894 to study mus. Worked with Gigout and from 1898 to 1909 at Schola Cantorum under d'Indy. Prof. of counterpoint, Schola Cantorum, 1902–14, pupils incl. Satie and Varèse. Served in Fr. army 1914–18, thereafter devoting himself to comp. and living secluded life because of ill-health. Once free of d'Indy influence, Roussel developed a neo-classical style in which strong Stravinskyan rhythms and daring harmonies were blended with a rich, sometimes orientally exotic, orch. palette and expressive melodies. His 3rd and 4th syms. represent him at his most individual, but his ballet Bacchus et Ariane is his best-known work. Prin. comps.:OPERAS: La naissance de la lyre (1923–4); Le Testament de la tante Caroline (1932–3).OPERA-BALLET: Padmâvatî (1914–18).BALLET: Le Festin de l'araignée (1912); Bacchus et Ariane (1930); Aeneas (1935).INCIDENTAL MUSIC: Le Marchand de Sable qui passe (1908).ORCH.: syms: No.1 (Le Poème de la forêt) (1904–6), No.2 in B♭ (1919–21), No.3 in G minor (1930), No.4 in A (1934); Prelude to Tolstoy's Resurrection (1903); Pour une fête de printemps (1920); 2 suites from Bacchus et Ariane (1930); Suite in F (1926); pf. conc. (1927); Petite Suite (1929); Sinfonietta, str. (1934); Rapsodie flamande (1936); vc. concertino (1936).VOICE(S) & ORCH.: La Ménace (1908); Madrigal aux muses (1923); Psalm 80, ten., ch., orch. (1928).CHAMBER MUSIC: pf. trio (1902); Divertissement, pf., 5 wind (1906); vn. sonata No.1 (1907–8), No.2 (1924); Serenade, fl., hp., str. trio (1925); Joueurs de flûte, fl., pf. (1924); Trio, fl., va., vc. (1929); str. qt. (1932); Andante and Scherzo, fl., pf. (1934); str. trio (1937).PIANO: Rustiques (1904–6); Suite (1909–10); Sonatina (1912); 3 Pieces (1933).SONGS: 4 Poèmes d'Henri de Régnier (1903); 4 Poèmes d'Henri de Régnier (1907); Flammes (1908); 2 Songs from the Chinese (1907–8); 2 Songs (Light, Farewell) (1918); 2 Songs (Le Bachalier de Salamanque, Sarabande) (1919); Jazz dans la nuit (1928).

Wolff, Albert (Louis) (b Paris, 1884; d Paris, 1970). Fr. conductor and composer. Chorusmaster Opéra-Comique, Paris, 1908, cond. from 1911, mus. dir. 1921–4, th. dir. 1945–6. Cond. first Paris perf. of Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges, 1926, and f.p. of Poulenc's Les mamelles de Tirésias, Paris 1947. Cond. Fr. repertoire at NY Met 1919–21. CG début 1937. Cond., Concerts Lamoureux 1928–34, then Concerts Pasdeloup 1934–40. Fine interpreter of Roussel. Wrote opera L'Oiseau bleu (NY 1919).