Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

November 5, 1885 in Paris, France

Death

:

December 23, 1951 in Paris, France

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Henri Collet was a French composer, music critic, and writer who was born on January 23, 1885, in Paris, France. He was the son of a wealthy family and received a privileged education, studying at the Lycée Condorcet and the École des Hautes Études Sociales. Collet was interested in music from a young age and began studying piano and composition with Charles-Marie Widor and Vincent d'Indy. In 1908, Collet became a music critic for the newspaper Le Temps, where he wrote under the pseudonym "Jean d'Estournelles." He quickly gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and insightful critic, and his writing was widely read and respected. Collet was particularly interested in contemporary music and was an early champion of composers such as Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky. As a composer, Collet was influenced by the Impressionist and Symbolist movements in literature and art. His music is characterized by its delicate textures, subtle harmonies, and evocative melodies. Collet's early works include a number of piano pieces, such as the Suite en la mineur (1906) and the Prélude et fugue en ut majeur (1908), as well as several songs and chamber works. In 1913, Collet founded the Société Musicale Indépendante with a group of like-minded composers, including Ravel, Stravinsky, and Manuel de Falla. The society was dedicated to promoting new and experimental music, and it quickly became an important forum for avant-garde composers in Paris. Collet also served as the society's president from 1920 to 1923. During World War I, Collet served in the French army and was wounded in combat. After the war, he continued to write music criticism and compose his own works. In 1920, he published a book on Debussy, which is still considered one of the most important studies of the composer's life and work. Collet's most famous work is his ballet Les Masques, which was premiered in 1923 by the Ballets Russes. The ballet is based on a story by the French writer Paul Claudel and tells the story of a group of masks who come to life and dance in a magical forest. The music is characterized by its shimmering textures and haunting melodies, and it has been praised for its evocative depiction of the natural world. In addition to his work as a composer and critic, Collet was also a prolific writer. He published several books on music, including a biography of Ravel and a study of the French composer Gabriel Fauré. He also wrote novels, plays, and essays on a wide range of topics. Collet died on December 14, 1951, in Paris, France. He is remembered as an important figure in the development of modern music and as a writer who helped to shape the cultural landscape of his time. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and his writing remains an important resource for scholars and music lovers alike.

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