Loucheur, Raymond

Loucheur, Raymond, French composer and pedagogue; b. Tourcoing, Jan. 1, 1899; d. Nogent-sur-Marne, Sept. 14, 1979. He was a student of Woollett in Le Havre (1915–18) and of Boulanger, Gédalge, d’Indy, Fauchet, and Vidal at the Paris Cons. (1920–23). In 1928 he won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata Héraclès à Delphe. He was active in Paris, where he taught (1925—40); after serving as inspector of musical education in the city schools (from 1941), he was director of the Cons. (1956–62). His music was chromatically lyrical and displayed rhythmic spontaneity.

Works

dramatic: ballet: Hof-Frog (1935–48; Paris, June 17, 1953). orch.: 3 syms.: No. 1 (1929–33; Paris, Dec. 15, 1936; rev. 1969), No. 2 (1944; Paris, Feb. 15, 1945), and No. 3 (1971; Paris, Oct. 17, 1972); Défilé (1936); Pastorale (1939); Rapsodie malgache (Paris, Oct. 10, 1945); Divertissement (1951); Violin Concerto (1960–63; Paris, Feb. 28, 1965); Percussion Concertino (1963; Paris, Jan. 9, 1966); Cortège, Interlude, et Danse for Winds, Harp, and Percussion (1964–66); Cello Concerto (1967–68; Radio Luxembourg, July 11, 1968); Thrène for Flute and Strings (1971); Hommage à Raoul Dufy (1973; Paris, Oct. 27, 1974); Évocations for Wind Orch. (1974; Paris, March 7, 1976). chamber: String Quartet (1930); En famille for Clarinet Sextet (1932; also for Chamber Orch., 1940); Portraits for Clarinet, Oboe, and Bassoon (1947); 4 pièces en quintette for Harp, Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1953); Concertino for Trumpet and Clarinet Sextet (1954; also for Trumpet and Orch., 1956); Sonata for Solo Violin (1959); Recontres for Oboe and Cello (1972); Reflets for Brass Quintet (1976). vocal:Héraclès à Delphe, cantata (1928; Le Havre, June 12, 1929); 3 Duos for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1934); La Ballade des petites filles qui n’ont pas de poupée for 4 Soloists, Chorus, and Piano (1936); L’Apothéose de la Seine for Narrator, Mezzo-soprano, Chorus, Ondes Martenot, and Orch. (Paris, July 7, 1937); 5 poèmes de R.-M. Rilke for Mezzo-soprano and String Quartet (1952–57); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire