born March 10, 1892, Le Havre, France
died Nov. 27, 1955, Paris
French composer.
Born to Swiss-French parents, he studied in Zürich, then at the Paris Conservatory. One of the group known as Les Six , though not truly in sympathy with its aims, he first gained international renown for his oratorio Le Roi David (1921). His exciting orchestral piece Pacific 231 (1923), portraying a locomotive, caused a sensation. Prolific throughout his life, he composed five symphonies (including Symphony No. 3 known as Liturgique , for the end of World War II), the oratorio Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher (1938), and numerous scores for ballet, theatre, and films (including Abel Gance 's Napoleon ).