David, Félicien-(César) (1810–1876)

French composer. He settled in Paris in 1841 and made a great success with his oriental descriptive symphony Le Désert (1844), inspired by his travels in Palestine. He was one of the first Western composers to introduce oriental scales and melodies into his music.

He was born in Cadenet, Vaucluse, and learnt music at the cathedral of Aix-en-Provence and from 1825 at a Jesuit college, and began to compose early. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1830, travelled in the East 1833–35, and after his return began to make a name as a composer of quasi-oriental music. He wrote symphonies, chamber music, and songs. Once highly popular, his music is now almost entirely forgotten.

Works Opera La Perle du Brésil (1851), Herculanum (1859), Lalla-Roukh (after Moore; 1862), Le Saphir (1865), La Captive (withdrawn).

Sacred music oratorio Moïse au Sinaï; mystery Eden; motets and hymns.

Orchestral descriptive symphony Le Désert (1844) and Christophe Colomb; four symphonies.

Chamber four string quartets; 24 string quintets, two nonets for wind; Mélodies orientales for piano.

Other songs.