Camille Decreus

Camille Léo Ernest Decreus
Born	23 September 1876 Paris
Died	26 September 1939 Fontainebleau
Occupation(s)	Composer and pianist

Camille Decreus, sometimes written as Camille DeCreus or Camille de Creus (23 September 1876 – 26 September 1939) was a French composer and pianist.

Biography

Camille Léo Ernest Decreus has studied music under Raoul Pugno in Paris Conservatory.^[1]

He married the talented violinist Renée Chemet on May 20, 1906. This year also marked his solo debut. Since then, he was known as a piano accompanist for other musicians in Europe and America, including his wife and Eugène Ysaÿe.

He succeeded the position of Director of American Conservatory in Fontainebleau on or before 1924.^[2] During the years in American Conservatory, many musicians have been under his teaching, such as Jane Pickens Hoving,^[3] Jane Hobson,^[4] Ulvi Cemal Erkin,^[5] Humberto Viscarra Monje,^[6] Evangeline Marie Lehman ^[7] and so on.

Musical works

Decreus was a forgotten composer. Only about 10 short vocal pieces with piano accompaniment or piano solo pieces are attributed as Decreus's composition.^[8] No known recording for any of Decreus's work exist, though information about live performance of his work could be found.^[9]

On the other hand, a few works from other composers enlisted Decreus as dedicatee, such as:

• Godowsky's concert transcription of Chopin's Waltz Op. 69 No. 1,^[10]
• Le Moustique, Opus 66 by Mel Bonis ^[11]

References

1. under biography of "Renée Henriette Joséphine Chemet". meloclassic.com. Retrieved Feb 21, 2014.
2. "The World of Music". Etude Magazine, Jan 1924. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
3. Georgia biographical dictionary. (2008-2009 ed.). State History Publications. 2008. p. 416. ISBN 9781878592422.
4. "Jane Hobson (Mezzo-soprano)". Bach Cantatas Website. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
5. biography of "Ulvi Cemal Erkin". Retrieved 2015-02-21.
6. Latin American classical composers : a biographical dictionary (2. ed.). Scarecrow Press. 2002. p. 599. ISBN 978-0810845176.
7. biography of "Evangeline Marie Lehman". Music Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
8. "List of compositions by Camille Decreus". Bibliothèque nationale de France.
9. "Ysaye to Give Concert Today". San Francisco Call. 1913-05-11. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
10. Liner note of "Leopold Godowsky Piano Music Volume 9". Naxos. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
11. cover image of "Le moustique, Op. 66 by Mel Bonis". ed. Demets.

External links

• Free scores by Camille Decreus at the International Music Score Library Project