Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Urbain Fauré (May 12, 1845 – November 4, 1924) was a French composer.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 1845 - November 4 - 1924 - French - Composer

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Born in Pamiers, Ariège, Midi-Pyrénées, he studied at the Niedermeyer school of religious music in Paris with several of the greats including Camille Saint-Saëns. He eventually became organist at Église de la Madeleine.

Related Topics:
Pamiers - Ariège - Midi-Pyrénées - Niedermeyer - Paris - Camille Saint-Saëns - Église de la Madeleine

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A prolific composer, among the most noteworthy of his works are his Requiem, the opera Penelope, the orchestral suite Masques et Bergamasques (based on music for a dramatic entertainment, or divertissement comique), and music for Pelléas et Mélisande. He also wrote chamber music; his two piano quartets are particularly well known. Other chamber music includes two piano quintets, two cello sonatas, two violin sonatas, and a number of piano pieces. He is also known for his songs, such as Clair de lune, Après un rêve, Les roses d'Ispahan, En prière, and several song cycles, including

Related Topics:
Requiem - Opera - Penelope - Orchestral suite - Masques et Bergamasques - Pelléas et Mélisande - Chamber music - Piano quartet - Piano quintet - Cello sonata - Violin sonata - Piano - Song cycle

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La Bonne Chanson with settings of poems by Verlaine.

Related Topics:
La Bonne Chanson - Verlaine

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The Requiem, Op 48, was not composed to the memory of a specific person but, in Fauré?s words, ?for the pleasure of it? It was first performed in 1888. Fauré is thought not to have had strong religious beliefs. It has been described as "a lullaby of death". In setting the requiem he left out the Dies irae poem, though the reference to the day of judgment appears in libera me, which he added to the normal mass. Several slightly different versions of the Requiem exist, and these have given rise to a number of different recordings. Personal grief may have influenced the composition as it was started after the death of his father, and before it was completed, his mother passed away as well. The Requiem can thus be seen as an expression of Faure's personal tragedy written after the death of his parents.

Related Topics:
Requiem - 1888 - Catholic - Requiem - Dies irae - Libera me

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The Requiem is also acknowledged as a source of inspiration for the similar setting by Maurice Duruflé.

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His position as head of the Paris Conservatoire meant he was regarded as being among the foremost musical educators of his time; students of his include Maurice Ravel, Lili and Nadia Boulanger, and George Enescu.

Related Topics:
Paris Conservatoire - Maurice Ravel - Lili - Nadia Boulanger - George Enescu

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Gabriel Fauré died in Paris from pneumonia. He was given a state funeral at Église de la Madeleine and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy, Paris, France.

Related Topics:
Pneumonia - Cimetière de Passy

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