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Chausson

Ernest Chausson (1855–1899) was a French composer who studied first with Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire and then with César Franck, whose influence runs through the rich harmonic language of his mature work. Born into a wealthy family, he had no financial need to compose professionally, which perhaps explains why his output is small and carefully considered rather than prolific. His Poème for violin and orchestra, completed in 1896, is among the most perfectly realised works in the violin repertoire. He died at forty-four in a cycling accident, his bicycle losing control on a downhill stretch; his String Quartet was left unfinished on his desk.

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