Louis Aubert
Encyclopedia
Louis François Marie Aubert (born Paramé
(Ille-et-Vilaine
), 19 February 1877, - died Paris
, 9 January 1968) was a French
composer.
. His parents, recognizing their son's musical talent, sent him to Paris to receive an education at an early age. He became recognized for his voice, primarily for his renditions of the Pie Jesu from Gabriel Fauré
's Requiem
at the Église de la Madeleine
. The young Aubert met Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire
, and he regularly attended at his composition classes, which greatly influenced his development.
Aubert became an excellent pianist, and in fact, Maurice Ravel
wrote for and dedicated his Valses nobles et sentimentales
to him. He also worked as a piano and composition teacher, both privately and on the faculty of the Conservatoire de Paris
. He counts among his students Henry Barraud
, Jean-Marie Beaudet
, Jean Berger
, and Georges Savaria
.
He composed music for the church, several ballets, mélodie
s, and incidental music for the stage. Although Breton
by birth at a time of intense Breton nationalism
, he was little inspired by his home region. Aubert wrote popular songs, notably for Marie Dubas
. He also was a contributing journalist to the magazines Chantecler, Paris-soir, Le journal and Opéra.
Aubert wrote one opera
in three acts based on classic fairy tales by Charles Perrault
to a libretto by J. Chenevière entitled La fôret bleu ("The Blue Forest"). The work was composed in 1904 to 1911 and individual acts were performed while the work was in progress. The first complete staged performance appeared in Geneva
on 7 January 1913. The enchanting characters and delightful plot enabled the work to achieve popular success in other theaters, including Boston
. The work did not appear in Paris until 1924, where it was staged at the Opéra-Comique (Salle Favart).
Aubert died in near-oblivion in Paris at age 90.
Paramé
Paramé is a former town and commune of France on the north coast of Britanny. The town merged with Saint-Servan into the commune of Saint-Malo in 1967. Paramé is now a quarter of Saint-Malo and its seaside resort. The city is known for its long sand beach and its sea spa....
(Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
), 19 February 1877, - died Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 9 January 1968) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer.
Biography
Louis Aubert was a child prodigyChild prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
. His parents, recognizing their son's musical talent, sent him to Paris to receive an education at an early age. He became recognized for his voice, primarily for his renditions of the Pie Jesu from Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Requiem
Requiem (Fauré)
Gabriel Fauré composed his Requiem in D minor, Op. 48 between 1887 and 1890. This choral–orchestral setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead is the best known of his large works. The most famous movement is the soprano aria Pie Jesu...
at the Église de la Madeleine
Église de la Madeleine
L'église de la Madeleine is a Roman Catholic church occupying a commanding position in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was designed in its present form as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army...
. The young Aubert met Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
, and he regularly attended at his composition classes, which greatly influenced his development.
Aubert became an excellent pianist, and in fact, Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
wrote for and dedicated his Valses nobles et sentimentales
Valses nobles et sentimentales (Ravel)
The Valses nobles et sentimentales is a suite of waltzes composed by Maurice Ravel. The piano version was published in 1911, and an orchestral version was published in 1912. The suite contains an eclectic blend of Impressionist and Modernist music, which is especially evident in the orchestrated...
to him. He also worked as a piano and composition teacher, both privately and on the faculty of the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
. He counts among his students Henry Barraud
Henry Barraud
Henry Barraud was a French composer.He was born in Bordeaux. He was a student of Louis Aubert at the Conservatoire de Paris, but in 1927 failed to graduate, apparently because of his refusal to follow orthodox methods...
, Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet
Jean-Marie Beaudet was a Canadian conductor, organist, pianist, radio producer, and music educator. He had a long career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, serving variously as a music producer, programing director, conductor, and administrator...
, Jean Berger
Jean Berger
Jean Berger was a German-born pianist, composer, and music educator.-Early years:...
, and Georges Savaria
Georges Savaria
Georges Savaria is a Canadian pianist, composer, ondist, college administrator, and music educator. His compositional output consists of a 1951 piano concerto, several songs and works for solo piano, and music for theatre, television, and radio...
.
He composed music for the church, several ballets, mélodie
Mélodie
Mélodie refers to French art songs of the mid-19th century to the present; it is the French equivalent of the German Lied. It is distinguished from a chanson, which is a folk or popular song.-Nature of the mélodie:...
s, and incidental music for the stage. Although Breton
Breton people
The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brythonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain in waves from the 3rd to 6th century into the Armorican peninsula, subsequently named Brittany after them.The...
by birth at a time of intense Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
, he was little inspired by his home region. Aubert wrote popular songs, notably for Marie Dubas
Marie Dubas
Marie Dubas was a music-hall singer, diseuse and comedienne.Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre mixing comedy into her routine...
. He also was a contributing journalist to the magazines Chantecler, Paris-soir, Le journal and Opéra.
Aubert wrote one opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in three acts based on classic fairy tales by Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault was a French author who laid the foundations for a new literary genre, the fairy tale, with his works derived from pre-existing folk tales. The best known include Le Petit Chaperon rouge , Cendrillon , Le Chat Botté and La Barbe bleue...
to a libretto by J. Chenevière entitled La fôret bleu ("The Blue Forest"). The work was composed in 1904 to 1911 and individual acts were performed while the work was in progress. The first complete staged performance appeared in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
on 7 January 1913. The enchanting characters and delightful plot enabled the work to achieve popular success in other theaters, including Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The work did not appear in Paris until 1924, where it was staged at the Opéra-Comique (Salle Favart).
Aubert died in near-oblivion in Paris at age 90.
Publications
- L'Orchestre, Paris, PUF, 1951.
- Notice sur la vie et les travaux de Gustave CharpentierGustave CharpentierGustave Charpentier, , born in Dieuze, Moselle on 25 June 1860, died Paris, 18 February 1956) was a French composer, best known for his opera Louise.-Life and career:...
, Paris, Firmin-Didot, 1956.
External links
- Louis Aubert (1877-1968) (includes list of main works)