Leo Luguet

Leo-Jean Luguet was born on 7 March 1864 in Fontenay-le-Comte (France). He studied music at the Paris conservatory under Jules Massenet, Antoine Taudou and Cesar Franck. For unknown reason he decided not to start a career as a composer or musician after his studies. Instead Leo Luguet added additional studies in philosophy afterwards to finally became professor for philosophy at the College Carnot in Fontainebleau for 40 years. He continued to compose music but only for private use and known to close friends. Only a handful compositions were published and so Leo Luguet remains unsung as a composer to this day. Leo Luguet died on 26 August 1935 in Fontainebleau (France).

Among his compositions are a symphony "Resurrection", a cello sonata, a quartet, septet and other chamber music, a collection of nearly sixty tone poems for piano titled "L'Epave".

In my possession are two autograph manuscripts of compositions by Leo Luguet. Both manuscripts were once in the possession of Emmanuel Chabrier and have the note "Pour remettre a M. E. Chabrier" written on the title page.

1) Deux pieces

The "2 pieces pour voix et piano" consist of two small songs with the titles 1. Reminiscence and 2. Chanson. The first song sets a poem by Louis Delsons to music, the second one a poem by Catulle Mendes. But the manuscript was once in the possession of Emmanuel Chabrier who died in 1894. Having in mind the birth year of Leo Luguet it seems very likely that the two songs were written around 1885.

2) Prelude des Eumenides

The "Prelude des Eumenides" is a composition for orchestra. The work is dedicated to the conductor Charles Constantin (1835-1891). The manuscript is not dated but the dedicatee as well as the fact that the manuscript once belonged to Emmanuel Chabrier makes it likely that the composition was written around 1885.