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Édouard Deransart was a French composer and pianist who lived from 1887 to 1957. He was born in the town of Rouen, in the Normandy region of France, on May 22, 1887. His father was a music teacher, and his mother was a singer. From a young age, Deransart showed a talent for music, and he began studying piano with his father when he was just five years old. Deransart's musical education continued at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied piano with Louis Diémer and composition with Charles-Marie Widor. He won several prizes at the Conservatoire, including the Prix de Rome in 1912, which allowed him to study in Italy for several years. Deransart's early compositions were heavily influenced by the Impressionist style of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. His first major work, the Suite for Piano, was composed in 1910 and premiered in Paris the following year. The Suite is a collection of four pieces that showcase Deransart's skill as a pianist and his ability to create evocative, atmospheric music. In 1914, Deransart enlisted in the French army to fight in World War I. He was wounded in battle and spent several months in a military hospital. During this time, he continued to compose music, including a set of piano pieces called Les Blessures de Guerre (The Wounds of War), which were inspired by his experiences on the battlefield. After the war, Deransart returned to Paris and resumed his career as a composer and pianist. He became known for his elegant, refined style, which combined elements of Impressionism with a more traditional, classical approach. His music was often characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and subtle use of color and texture. Deransart's most famous work is his Piano Concerto, which he composed in 1926. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the soloist, with a sweeping, romantic melody that is both lyrical and dramatic. The piece was premiered in Paris in 1927, with Deransart himself as the soloist, and it quickly became one of his most popular works. In addition to his Piano Concerto, Deransart composed a wide variety of other works, including chamber music, orchestral pieces, and songs. Some of his most notable compositions include the String Quartet No. 1, the Suite for Flute and Piano, and the song cycle Les Heures Claires (The Clear Hours). Throughout his career, Deransart was highly regarded by his fellow musicians and critics. He was a member of the Société des Compositeurs de Musique, and his music was frequently performed in Paris and other major cities throughout Europe. He also taught composition at the Conservatoire de Paris, where his students included the composer Henri Dutilleux. Deransart died in Paris on December 22, 1957, at the age of 70. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and he is remembered as one of the most important French composers of the early 20th century.

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