The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Reber, Napoleon Henry

REBER, rā-bār, Napoleon Henry, French composer: b. Muhlhausen, Alsace, 21 Oct. 1807; d. Paris, 24 Nov. 1880. After studying with Reicha and Le Sueur, he wrote chamber music of remarkable merit and in 1851 was appointed professor in the Conservatory, and succeeded Halévy in the chair of composition 1862. Among his works are ‘Le Diable Amoureux’ (1840), a ballet; ‘Le Nuit de Noël’ (1848); ‘Le Père Gaillard’ (1852); ‘Les Papillotes de M. Benoist’ (1853), and ‘Les Dames Capitaines’ (1857), all four comic operas. He also produced some instrumental work of a high order — four symphonies, one overture, one series for the orchestra, three stringed quartets, one stringed quintet, one pianoforte quartet, seven pianoforte trios and miscellaneous pieces. His ‘Traité d'Harmonie’ (1862) is a standard work.