Maréchal, (Charles-) Henri
Maréchal, (Charles-) Henri
Maréchal, (Charles-) Henri, French composer; b. Paris, Jan. 22, 1842; d. there, May 12, 1924. He began his studies with Chevé (solfège) before pursuing training with Batiste (solfège), Laurent (harmony), Massé (composition), and Chollet (piano); subsequently he was a student at the Paris Cons. (1866–67) of Massé, as well as of Chauvet (counterpoint and fugue) and Benoist (organ). In 1870 he won the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata Le Judgement de Dieu.In 1896 he was named inspector of music education. He publ. 2 vols. of reminiscences: Rome: Souvenirs d’un musicien (Paris, 1904; 2nd ed., 1913) and Paris: Souvenirs d’un musicien (Paris, 1907). He also publ. Monographie universelle de l’Orphéon (Paris, 1910) and Lettres et Souvenirs, 1871–1874 (Paris, 1920).
Works
dramatic: opera (all 1st perf. in Paris unless otherwise given): Les Amoureux de Catherine (May 8, 1876); L’étoile (March 12, 1881); La Taverne des Trabans (Dec. 31, 1881); Déidatne (Sept. 15, 1893); Calendal (Rouen, Dec. 12, 1894); Ping-Sin (1895; Jan. 25,1918). other: Orch. works; chamber music; piano pieces; organ music; vocal pieces, including La Judgement de Dieu, cantata (1870), choral works, and songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire