Vincent d'Indy biography
Vincent d’Indy, in full Paul-Marie-Théodore-Vincent d’Indy, (born March 27, 1851, Paris, France—died Dec. 1, 1931, Paris), French composer and instructor, exceptional for his tried, and partially profitable, reform of French symphonic and dramatic music alongside traces indicated by César Franck.
D’Indy studied underneath Albert Lavignac, Antoine Marmontel, and Franck (for composition). In 1874 he was admitted to the organ class of the Paris Conservatoire, and in the identical yr his second Wallenstein Overture was carried out. He thought of French Nineteenth-century music and the custom of the Paris Opéra, of the Paris Conservatoire, and of French “decorative” symphony to be superficial, frivolous, and unworthy to compete with the Teutonic Bach-Beethoven-Wagner custom. The character of his personal music revealed meticulous building but additionally a sure lyricism. His concord and counterpoint had been laboriously labored out, however in his later work, free and unorthodox rhythms got here simply and fluidly.
D’Indy’s most vital stage works had been Le Chant de le Cloche (1883; “The Song of the Clock”), Fervaal (1895), Le Légende de Saint Christophe (1915; “The Legend of Saint Christopher”), and Le Rêve de Cinyras (1923; “The Dream of Cinyras”). Among his symphonic works, Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français (1886; “Symphony on a French Mountaineer’s Chant”), with solo piano, based mostly fully on one of many folks songs d’Indy had collected within the Ardeche district, and Istar (variations; 1896) symbolize his highest achievements. His 105 scores additionally embody keyboard works, secular and non secular choral writings, and chamber music. Among the latter are a few of his greatest compositions: Quintette (1924); a collection for flute, string trio, and harp (1927); and the Third String Quartet (1928–29). He additionally made preparations of the tons of of people songs that he collected within the Vivarais.
In 1894 d’Indy grew to become one of many founders of the Schola Cantorum in Paris. It was by way of programs at this academy that he unfold his theories and initiated the revival of curiosity in Gregorian plainchant and music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. D’Indy additionally revealed research of Franck (1906), Ludwig van Beethoven (1911), and Richard Wagner (1930). In France, Paul Dukas, Albert Roussel, and Déodat de Sévérac had been amongst his disciples. Outside France, notably in Greece, Bulgaria, Portugal, and Brazil, his affect was lasting upon composers interested by shaping folks music into symphonic types.