The French composer Henri Duparc wrote remarkably little music, leaving thirteen songs that nevertheless have some importance as part of French vocal repertoire. Although never a full-time student of music, Duparc took lessons from César Franck. He published his first five songs in 1868. His last surviving song was written in 1884. Thereafter, suffering from a nervous complaint, he gave up composition.

Vocal Music

The small number of songs by Duparc constitute an important and well enough known part of French mélodie repertoire. These include a setting of Baudelaire’s L’invitation au voyage, later orchestrated, as was La vie antérieure by the same poet. Duparc made orchestrations also of the accompaniments of Ch...