Alexis Roland-Manuel

Full biography Alexis Roland-Manuel

Alexis Roland-Manuel was a French composer and music critic. He was born on March 22, 1891, in Paris, France, to Belgian and Jewish parents. He studied composition with famous French composers Vincent d'Indy and Albert Roussel.

Roland-Manuel's music was strongly influenced by his interest in literature and poetry and reflected his belief in the importance of beauty and simplicity in art. He composed mainly chamber music, including string trios, string quartets, and sonatas. He also wrote piano music and songs.

In addition to his work as a composer, Roland-Manuel was a well-known music critic, writing for several French journals, including "La Nouvelle Revue Française." He was a close friend of composer Maurice Ravel, and his biography of Ravel is considered one of the most important works on the composer.

Roland-Manuel's most famous work is the book "La poétique de la musique," published in 1948, in which he set out his theories on music. In the book, he argued that music had its own language independent of words and that it was capable of expressing emotions and ideas in its own right.

Alexis Roland-Manuel died on November 1, 1966, in Paris. Today, he is remembered both for his music and his influential writings on music theory and criticism.