KOECHLIN, Charles
b Paris, 27 November 1867
d Le Canadel, Var, 31 December 1950, aged eighty-three

He came from a rich industrial family and was intended for a military career, but ill-health prevented it. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1890, studying with Massenet, then with Fauré, whose influence was the strongest in his musical life. He founded the Societe Musicale Independante in 1909, and from 1915 began a long career as a writer on musical theory. He lectured in America in 1918, 1928 and 1937, and is best remembered as a teacher.

His output as a composer extends to 226 Opus numbers, including stage works, two symphonies and other symphonic works, choral works and songs, and chamber and instrumental works. He also wrote a great deal of music for films.