A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Serpette, Gaston

SERPETTE, Gaston, French composer, born at Nantes Nov. 4, 1846, began life as an advocate, but gave up the bar for music. He was a pupil of Ambroise Thomas at the Conservatoire, and took the 'Grand prix' in 1871 for a cantata (Jeanne d'Arc) of great promise. On his return from Italy, despairing of acceptance at the Opéra Comique, he closed with the Bouffes Parisiens, and produced 'La Branche cassée' (3 acts, Jan. 23, 1874), with a success which induced him to go on composing works of the same slight character. 'Le Manoir du Pic Tordu' (May 28, 1875), 'Le Moulin du Vert galant' (April 12, 1876), and 'La Petite Muette' (Oct. 3, 1877), all in 3 acts, followed in Paris, and 'La Nuit de St. Germain' (March 1880) in Brussels. Neither this nor 'Koby,' composed in Rome, have been published, though the former contains pretty flowing music. Some of Serpette's detached melodies show that he might succeed in a higher class of work than he has yet attempted. His last feat is 'Madame le Diable' (April 5, 1882), composed for Jeanne Granier, the favourite singing actress of 'La Renaissance' theatre.

[ G. C. ]