Paul Dukas

Paul Dukas

Born on 1 Oct 1865 in Paris, Paul Dukas was a composer of the Romantic period with a modern lean of a strongly classical early foundation. His catalogue is relatively brief, particularly as he spent the last couple decades of his life composing next to nothing as he focused on teaching. His father was a banker, his mother a pianist who died when Dukas was five. He played piano as a youth and began composing at age fourteen. Two years later he entered the Paris Conservatoire, composing an unpublished 'Air de Clytemnestre' for voice and small orchestra in 1882. His symphonic poem of an overture, 'Le Roi Lear', arrived in 1883, the same year as 'Goetz de Berlichingen', another symphonic poem as an overture. Attempt at their chronological order below is unverified and possibly in error:

Dukas left the Conservatoire in 1889 toward writing music criticism for various chronicles, producing some 410 articles over the years. 'Polyeucte' was an overture written in 1891 for the tragic play, 'Polyeucte', by Pierre Corneille, that premiering on 23 January 1892. His 'Symphony' in C Major' was completed in 1896 toward its premiere on 3 Jan 1897 w conducting by Paul Vidal to whom he dedicated its publication in 1908. Come his scherzo (playful), the symphonic poem, 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' in F minor in 1897, inspired by Goethe's 1797 poem by the same name. 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' was used in the 1940 Disney film, 'Fantasia', with Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. 'Piano Sonata' in E flat minor was completed in 1900 toward publishing in 1901 w dedication to Saint-Saëns.

Radio Philharmonisch Orkest conducted by Jean Fournet

Utrecht, Netherlands   16 Feb 1992

Continuing into the 20th century, Dukas published 'Villanelle' for horn and piano in 1906. Dukas premiered his Oriental ballet, 'La Péri', in Paris on 22 April 1912 (not to be confused w Burgmüller's 'La Peri' of 1843). With choreography by Ivan Clustine, the prelude to 'La Peri' is titled 'Fanfare'.

'La Peri' was Dukas' final major composition, though he wrote at least two future works, one for solo piano, another a song. Turning to private teaching, he eventually succeeded Charles-Marie Widor as professor of composition at the Conservatoire de Paris in 1927. Dukas was working a symphonic poem inspired by Shakespeare's 1610-11 'The Tempest' when he died in Paris on 17 May 1935.