Tansman, Alexandre (1897–1986)

Polish-born French composer. He studied at home and then at Warsaw, and in 1919 took two prizes for composition. He settled in Paris, but travelled extensively as pianist and conductor. He married the French pianist Colette Cras.

Works Opera and stage La nuit Kurde (1927), La toison d'or (1938); ballets Sextuor (1924) and La grande ville (1932).

Orchestral seven symphonies (1925–44), Sinfonietta (1925), Etudes symphoniques, Rapsodie polonaise, and suites for orchestra; two concertos (1925–26) and concertino for piano and orchestra; concertos for viola, violin, and cello (1936, 1937, 1963), and for clarinet (1958).

Chamber eight string quartets (1917–56), Danse de la sorcière for five wind instruments and piano; Sonata quasi una fantasia for violin and piano; flute sonata (1925); five sonatas and other piano works; songs, including ‘Stèle in memoriam Igor Stravinsky’ (1972).