Maurice Emmanuel

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Maurice Emmanuel (May 2, 1862–December 14, 1938) was a French composer of classical music.

Born in Burgundy and brought up in Dijon, Marie François Maurice Emmanuel became a choristor at Beaune cathedral after his family moved to the city in 1869. He entered the Paris Conservatoire, studying composition with Léo Delibes, and came in touch with Claude Debussy who was also studying there.

Emmanuel pursued a notable academic career. He wrote a treatise in 1895 on the music of Ancient Greece, and was appointed professor of the history of music at the Paris Conservatoire in 1909. His students there included Olivier Messiaen and Henri Dutilleux. Emmanuel's interests included folksong, Oriental music, and exotic modes — his use of these modes in his compositions had appalled Delibes, who had vetoed his entering for the Prix de Rome.

Other appointments included choirmaster at the church of Sainte-Clotilde from 1904–1907, where Charles Tournemire was organist.

His compositions include operas after Aeschylus Prométhée enchaîné and Salamine as well as symphonies, string quartets and other chamber music. Like many of his compositions, his six sonatines for solo piano demonstrate his academic interests. The first draws on the music of Burgundy, the second incorporates birdsong, the third uses a Burgundian folk tune in its finale, the fourth is subtitled en divers modes Hindous ("in various Hindu modes").