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Jean-Xavier Combarieu was a French composer, musicologist, and critic who made significant contributions to the field of classical music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on December 12, 1861, in Lyon, France, Combarieu showed an early interest in music and began studying piano and composition at a young age. Combarieu's musical education continued at the Paris Conservatory, where he studied under some of the most prominent composers of the time, including Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré. He also studied musicology with the renowned musicologist Charles Bordes, who would become a lifelong friend and collaborator. After completing his studies, Combarieu began working as a music critic for various French newspapers and magazines, including Le Figaro and La Revue Musicale. He quickly gained a reputation as a knowledgeable and insightful critic, and his writing was widely respected in the French music community. In addition to his work as a critic, Combarieu also continued to compose music throughout his career. His compositions were influenced by the French impressionist movement, and he was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of harmony and color in music. One of Combarieu's most significant contributions to the field of music was his work as a musicologist. He was a pioneer in the study of folk music, and he traveled extensively throughout Europe to collect and document traditional songs and dances. He also wrote extensively on the history of music, and his books and articles on the subject are still widely read and respected today. Combarieu's work as a musicologist earned him numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1901, he was awarded the Prix de Rome for his research on the music of the Middle Ages, and in 1910 he was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, one of the highest honors in the French arts community. Combarieu's contributions to the field of music were not limited to his writing and research, however. He was also an accomplished conductor, and he led several prominent orchestras throughout his career. He was particularly interested in promoting the works of contemporary composers, and he conducted premieres of works by Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and other leading composers of the time. One of Combarieu's most significant performances as a conductor was his 1913 premiere of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" with the Ballets Russes. The performance was met with controversy and even riots, but Combarieu remained a staunch defender of the work, arguing that it was a groundbreaking and important contribution to the field of music. Combarieu continued to work as a critic, composer, and musicologist throughout his career, and he remained an influential figure in the French music community until his death in 1935. His contributions to the field of music were wide-ranging and significant, and his work continues to be studied and appreciated by musicians and scholars around the world.

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