A pupil of Gabriel Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire, Jean Roger-Ducasse succeeded Dukas as professor of composition at the same institution. As a composer he developed a personal style, firmly rooted in tradition.

Stage Works

The lyric comedy Cantegril was staged at the Paris Opéra-Comique in 1931, five years after the mounting there of his lyric mimodrama Orphée.

Orchestral Music

Roger-Ducasse showed his mastery of orchestration in his Suite française of 1907. Other orchestral compositions include the Marche française of 1914, a Petite Suite and a set of Variations plaisantes (‘Pleasant Variations’) on a serious theme for harp and orchestra. His music for chorus and orchestra includes the triptych Ulysse et les Sirènes (‘Odysseus and the Sirens’) and his earlier work based on Faust Au jardin de Marguerite (‘In the Garden of Marguerite’).

Chamber Music

Chamber music of interest by Roger-Ducasse includes a String Quartet and a Piano Quartet.