A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fauré, Gabriel

FAURÉ, Gabriel Urbain, born May 13, 1845, at Pamiers (Ariège), studied at Paris with Niedermeyer, the founder of the École de Musique religieuse; also under Dietsch and Saint-Saëns, of whom he has remained the devoted friend. His first appointment on leaving the school in 1866 was that of organist at St. Sauveur, Rennes; in 1870 he returned to Paris, and after holding the posts of accompanying organist at St. Sulpice and principal organist at St. Honoré, became maître de chapelle at the Madeleine, where he still remains. He became known as a composer by his touching and original songs, many of which are very remarkable. A selection of twenty has been published by Hamelle, and 'Le Poème d'Amour' by Durand and Schoenewerk, but his compositions in this class are very numerous. He has also published many pianoforte pieces, among which are some delightful nocturnes; at the Société Nationale de Musique, where all his most important compositions have been successively given, he produced a Cantique de Racine, duets for female voices, and a violin sonata, afterwards played at the Trocadéro, on July 5, 1878, which last has become popular in Germany. Among his most remarkable works, besides a Berceuse and Romance for violin and orchestra, a beautiful Elégie for violoncello, two Quartets for piano and strings (1882 and '87), and a Violin Concerto, we may mention an Orchestral Suite (Salle Herz, Feb. 13, 1874), a pretty 'Chœur des Djinns' (Trocadéro, June 27, 1878), a symphony in D minor (Châtelet, March 15, 1885), a Requiem (Madeleine, Jan. 16, 1888), and his great choral work, 'La Naissance de Vénus.' M. Fauré, who is one of the most distinguished and steadfast of French composers, confines himself chiefly to vocal and chamber music, in which his remarkable purity and sincerity of sentiment, and his penetration of feeling seem to bind him to Chopin and Schumann. In 1885 the Prix Chartier, given by the Académie des Beaux Arts for the best chamber composition, was with excellent judgment awarded to him.

[ A. J. ]