Indy, (Paul Marie Théodore) Vincent d' (1851-1931)

French composer. He studied under César Franck, and was one of the founders of the Schola Cantorum. His works include operas (Fervaal, 1897), symphonies, tone poems (Istar, 1896), and chamber music.

Although born in Paris, he belonged to a noble family of the Ardèche district in the Vivarais. His mother died at his birth and he was brought up by his paternal grandmother, a good musician. At the age of 11 he was sent to Louis Diémer for the piano and Albert Lavignac for theory, and later studied piano under Jean Marmontel. In 1870 he published his first works and served in the defence of Paris against the Prussian army. To please his family he studied law, but was determined to be a musician and went for advice to Franck, who offered to teach him. He also joined Edouard Colonne's orchestra as a timpanist to gain experience. Jules Pasdeloup gave the first performance of one of his works, the overture to Schiller's Piccolomini, afterwards part of his Wallenstein trilogy.

Next to Franck he admired Franz Liszt, with whom he spent two months at Weimar in 1873, and Richard Wagner, whose first Ring cycle he attended at Bayreuth in 1876. He helped the conductor Charles Lamoureux introduce Wagner's music to Paris (Lohengrin, 1887) and revived works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Christoph Willibald von Gluck, and Claudio Monteverdi (Poppea in his own edition). In 1894 he joined Charles Bordes, together with Félix Guilmant, in founding the Schola Cantorum; he taught there until his death and had many pupils of the highest distinction, including Edgard Varèse. From 1912 he also directed the orchestral class at the Conservatory.

Works Stage operas Fervaal (1897), L'Étranger (1898-1901).

Orchestral Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français (Symphonie cévenole) for piano and orchestra (1886); symphonic variations Istar (1896), Jour d'été à la montagne (1905).

Chamber three string quartets (1890, 1897, 1929), string sextet and piano quintet (1924), trios for piano, violin, and cello, suite for trumpet, two flutes and string quartet; sonata for cello and piano.

Piano and songs 18 Op. nos. of piano works, including sonata in E major, Thème varié; 90 Chansons populaires du Vivarais arrangements of 12 French folk songs for unaccompanied chorus.