Ernest Chausson (1855-99). French composer

Ernest Chausson was born in Paris in 1855. After training to be a lawyer, he studied music under Jules Massenet and César Franck. He was not prolific as a composer, and many of his works are small-scale vocal and chamber pieces, though he did compose one symphony and a number of dramatic works. His Poème, Opus 26 for violin and orchestra, was used by Antony Tudor for the ballet Jardin aux lilas (Lilac Garden). Chausson died in Limay, Yvelines in 1899, as a result of a cycling accident.