Roesgen-Champion, Marguerite

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Roesgen-Champion, Marguerite

Roesgen-Champion, Marguerite , Swiss harpsichordist and composer; b. Geneva, Jan. 25, 1894; d. Paris, June 30, 1976. She studied composition with Bloch and Jaques-Dalcroze at the Geneva Cons., but devoted herself mainly to harpsichord playing, giving numerous recitals in Europe. Her own works, couched in the neo-Romantic vein, include Faunesques for Orch. (Paris, 1929), Concerto moderne for Harpsichord and Orch. (Paris, Nov. 15, 1931, composer soloist), Aquarelles, symphonic suite (Paris, Nov. 26, 1933), Harp Concerto (Paris, March 28, 1954), 5 harpsichord concertos (1931–59), including No. 1, Concerto moderne (Paris, Nov. 15, 1931, composer soloist), Concerto romantique for Piano and Orch. (1961), a number of pieces for flute in combination with the harpsichord and other instruments, and a curious piece for Piano, 4-Hands, entitled Spoutnik (1971).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire