Edmond Missa

Edmond Missa was born on 12 June 1861 in Reims (France). His mother Marie-Louise Duval was a professional concert singer, his uncle Ernest Duval music professor and organist. And so Edmond Missa received a musical education from an early age. Like his uncle he became a talented organist. Already at the age of 10 Edmond Missa became prinicipal organist at the Reims cathedral, as successor of Henri Dallier. Later Edmond Missa studied at the Niedermeyer school in Paris under Clement Loret (organ), Eugene Gigout (piano, counterpoint, harmony) and Gustave Lefevre (composition). Later he switched to the Paris conservatory where he finished his studies under Antoine Francois Marmontel (piano), Jules Duprato (harmony) and Jules Massenet (composition).

After his studies Edmond Missa began a career as both an organist and a composer. During his lifetime he was organist at different Parisian churches and cathedrals, most notably from 1885 till his passing at the Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux.

As a composer Edmond Missa had a strong emphasis on stage works. He composed more then 20 operas or operettas and 5 ballets. His opera "Juge et partie" received the Prix Cressent in 1886. In addition he composed also orchestral and chamber music, songs and other vocal works. His cantata "Genevieve de Paris" got an honorable mention in the Prix de Rome in 1881.

Edmond Missa died on 29 January 1910 in Paris (France).

In my possession are two autograph manuscripts by Edmond Missa. Both manuscripts are songs for voice and piano and both set poems by Gabriel Montoya to music. One song is titled "La robe", the other one "La voilette". The song "La voilette" was published by Costallat in 1896.