Roger-Ducasse, Jean (-Jules Aimable)
Roger-Ducasse, Jean (-Jules Aimable)
Roger-Ducasse, Jean (-Jules Aimable) , French composer and teacher; b. Bordeaux, April 18, 1873; d. Le-Taillan-Médoc, near Bordeaux, July 19, 1954. He studied at the Paris Cons. with Fauré (composition), Pessard (harmony), Gédalge (counterpoint), and de Bériot. In 1902 he won the 2nd Prix de Rome for the cantata Alcyone. In 1909 he was appointed inspector of singing in the Paris schools; subsequently was a prof. of ensemble at the Paris Cons.; from 1935 to 1940, taught composition there; then retired to Bordeaux. His first work to be played in public was a Petite suite for Orch. (Paris, March 5, 1898). He adopted a pleasing style of Impressionism; his symphonic pieces enjoyed considerable success, without setting a mark for originality. His autobiography was publ. in L’écran des musiciens (1930).
Works
DRAMATIC: Orphée, mimodrama (1913; St. Petersburg, Jan. 31, 1914); Cantegril, comic opera (1930; Paris, Feb. 9, 1931). ORCH.: Variations plaisantes sur un thème grave (Paris, Jan. 24, 1909); Suite française (1909); Prélude d’un ballet (1910); Le Joli Jeu de furet, scherzo (1911); Nocturne de printemps (Paris, Feb. 14, 1920); Symphonie sur la Cathédrale de Reims (unfinished); Le Petit Faune (Bordeaux, May 22, 1954). CHAMBER: Piano Quartet (1899–1912); String Quartet (1900–1909). VOCAL: Au Jardin de Marguerite for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1901–05); Sarabande for Voices and Orch. (1911); Sur quelques vers de Virgile for Chorus and Orch.; songs. OTHER: Pedagogical works.
Bibliography
L. Ceillier, R.-D. (Paris, 1920); Catalogue de l’oeuvre de R.-D. (Bordeaux, 1955).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire