Louis Fourestier

Louis Fourestier was born 31 May 1892 in Montpellier. He first studied music and cello in Montpellier, later in Paris with Andre Gedalge, Vincent d'Indy and Paul Dukas. He was an acclaimed composer winning the Prix Rossini in 1924, the Premier Prix de Rome in 1925 and the Prix Heugel in 1927. He then became a renowned conductor and taught conducting at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1946. Louis Fourestier died on 30 September 1976 in Boulogne-Billancourt.

In my possession is the autograph manuscript of "A saint Valery, for piano four hands". The work was composed in 1927 and is originally scored for orchestra. The title refers to the text "Pierre Noziere" by poet Anatole France. It was successfully premiered on 23 March 1930 by the Orchestre de Concerts Colonne under the baton of Gabriel Pierne in Paris. The short score was already published by Heugel in 1929. The work is dedicated to the father of Louis Fourestier.