Role

:

Composer

Country

:

France

Birth

:

September 30, 1879 in Paris, France

Death

:

May 31, 1947 in Paris, France

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Vocal

 

Henri (Gustave) Casadesus was a French classical music composer, violist, and music publisher. He was born on September 30, 1879, in Paris, France, to a family of musicians. His father, Henri Casadesus, was a violist and composer, and his mother, Marie-Louise Beetz, was a pianist. His uncle, Marius Casadesus, was a violinist, and his cousin, Robert Casadesus, was a pianist. Henri Casadesus began his musical training at a young age, studying the viola with his father. He later studied at the Paris Conservatory, where he won first prize in viola in 1899. He also studied composition with Gabriel Fauré and Jules Massenet. Casadesus began his career as a violist, performing with the Concerts Colonne and the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire. He also played in a string quartet with his brother, Marius Casadesus, and two other musicians. The quartet performed throughout Europe and the United States and recorded several albums. In addition to his career as a performer, Casadesus was also a music publisher. He founded the publishing company Éditions Musicales Henri Casadesus in 1912, which published works by composers such as Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Igor Stravinsky. Casadesus's compositions were influenced by his training as a violist and his love of chamber music. He wrote several works for string quartet, including a set of six quartets and a quartet for viola and string trio. He also wrote several works for viola and piano, including a sonata and a suite. Casadesus's most famous work is his transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations for string trio. The transcription was commissioned by the violinist Jelly d'Arányi, who wanted to perform the work with her sisters, Adila and Maria. Casadesus's transcription was well-received and has since become a popular work in the chamber music repertoire. Casadesus died on September 31, 1947, in Paris, France. His legacy as a composer and violist continues to be celebrated today, with performances of his works and recordings of his music.

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