(b. Paris, 29 May 1868; d. London, 23 April 1943)

Anglo-French composer. His father was a German and his mother an American. He began his musical studies in Paris under Anselm Ehmant, his only teacher. His first work, a book of songs, was published during the composer's twentieth year, and shortly afterwards he took up his abode in London as a banker, becoming a naturalised Englishman. His compositions include works of all kinds, notably the operas, 'Jehan de Saintré' (Aix-les-Bains, 1 Aug. 1893; Hamburg, 1894), 'Inès Menso' (produced, under the pseudonym of Ferd. Regnal, in London at Covent Garden on 10 July 1897, and subsequently in Germany); 'Tess' (after Thomas Hardy's 'Tess of the d'Urbevilles'), produced at the San Carlo Theatre, Naples, on 10 April 1906 and at Covent Garden on 14 July 1909; and 'Noël', produced at the Paris Opéra-Comique on 28 December 1910.

Among d'Erlanger's other works are a string Quartet, a Sonata for violin and pianoforte, an 'Andante symphonique' for cello and orchestra, a Quintet for pianoforte and strings, a 'Suite symphonique' for orchestra (1895), a violin Concerto, Op. 17 played by Kreisler at the Philharmonic Concert of 12 March 1903, and a 'Concerto symphonique' for piano and orchestra (1921).

More recent is a Requiem for solo voices, chorus and orchestra (1931).

Clearness of form and elegance of idea and expression are the distinguishing marks of d'Erlanger's music, whether in his operatic work, in his chamber and orchestral music, or in his songs.

Gordon C Allen BFCS Archivist and Historian