Durey, Louis

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Durey, Louis (b Paris, 1888; d St Tropez, 1979). Fr. composer. In 1917 joined Milhaud, Honegger, and others under leadership of Satie as ‘les nouveaux jeunes’, becoming Les Six in 1920. Abandoned them in 1921. Joined Fr. Communist party 1936. After 1945 became Progressist, one of group of Fr. composers who wrote mus. of deliberate ‘mass appeal’ in accordance with Communist doctrines on art. Works incl. Judith, monodrama (1918); L'Occasion, lyric drama (1928); Fantaisie Concertante, vc., orch. (1947); pf. concertino (1956); Mouvement symphonique (1964); Sinfonietta (1966); Obsession, wind inst. (1970); 3 str. qts.; 3 sonatines, fl., pf.; and songs.