Chausson, Ernest (1855–1899)

French composer. His early music was influenced by Jules Massenet and Wagner, and includes the symphonic poem Viviane (1882); he later turned to 18th-century French musical models. He was a pioneer of cyclic form. A fastidious, perhaps too self-critical artist, Chausson was one of the most important successors in the line of César Franck.

Chausson was born in Paris, where he attended the Conservatory for less than a year in 1880 and then became a pupil of Franck until 1883. Of independent means, he never held an official appointment, but helped to found the Société Nationale de Musique and was its secretary 1889–99. He died in a cycling accident, the first person to do so.

Works Stage operas Le Roi Arthus (1886–95), La Légende de Sainte Cécile (1891), and others; incidental music to Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Orchestral symphonic poem Viviane (1882); symphony in B♭ major (1890).

Vocal Poème de l'amour et de la mer for voice and orchestra (1882–90); Chanson perpétuelle for voice, string quartet and piano.

Chamber string quartet (unfinished), concerto for violin and piano with string quartet (1891), piano trio, piano quartet; piano and organ pieces.

Songs 10 Op. nos. of songs.