His Idylle from Pieces pictoresque greatly influenced Francis Poulenc, who wrote in his book Emmanuel Chabrier, "Even today I tremble with emotion in thinking of the miracle that was produced: a harmonic universe suddenly opened in front of me, and my music has never forgotten this first loving kiss." (Ivry 1996)
ALEXIS EMMANUELCHABRIER (1841-1894), French composer, was born at Ambert, Pay de Dome, on the 18th of January 1841.
Chabrier was also the author of a set of piano pieces entitled Pieces pittoresques, Valses romantiques, for two pianos, a fantasia for horn and piano, andc.
His great admiration for Wagner asserted itself in Gwendoline, a work which, in spite of inequalities due to want of experience, is animated by a high artistic ideal, is poetically conceived, and shows considerable harmonic originality, besides a thorough mastery over the treatment of the orchestra.
The genres of Chabrier's compositions include operas, songs, orchestral laments, suites and preludes as well as a number of piano pieces.
Wagner influenced some of Chabrier's later works (leitmotif, complex sonorities, and 9th chords that were unanticipated) and he frequented the company of Faure, d'Indy, Saint-Saens and Massenet.
Chabrier's work had a profound influence upon Ravel.
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