Pierre-Octave Ferroud

Full biography Pierre-Octave Ferroud

Pierre-Octave Calixte Ferroud (6 January 1900 – 17 August 1936) was a French composer and conductor of classical music. Although he had a relatively short career due to his untimely death at the age of 36, Ferroud left a lasting impact on the musical world with his compositions.

Ferroud was born in the French Alps and showed an early aptitude for music. He studied with both Paul Dukas and Nadia Boulanger, and his early compositions showed the influence of Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and jazz music. He developed a distinctive musical style that blended elements of the avant-garde with traditional forms, and his works often featured complex rhythms and harmonies.

Ferroud's most famous works include his Symphony in A Major (1930), his Serenade for Small Orchestra (1927), and his Prelude and Fugue for piano. He was also a prolific writer and music critic, contributing articles to several publications including La Revue Musicale and Comoedia.

Tragically, Ferroud's promising career was cut short when he was killed in a car accident in 1936. Despite his short life and career, Ferroud's contributions to the world of classical music were significant and he remains an important figure in French musical history.