Théodore Dubois

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François Clément Théodore Dubois (August 24, 1837 – June 11, 1924) was a French composer, organist and music teacher.

Dubois was born in Rosnay in Marne. He studied first under Louis Fanart (the choirmaster at Reims cathedral) and later at the Paris Conservatoire under Ambroise Thomas. He won the Prix de Rome in 1861. In 1868, he became choirmaster at the Church of the Madeleine, and in 1871 took over from César Franck as organist at the Church of Sainte-Clotilde. In 1877, Dubois returned to the Church of the Madeleine, succeeding Camille Saint-Saëns as organist there. From 1871 he taught at the Paris Conservatoire, with Paul Dukas among his pupils.

Dubois was director of the Conservatoire from 1896 (succeeding Thomas upon the latter's death) to 1905. He was forced to resign after his refusal to award the Prix de Rome to Maurice Ravel created a substantial public outcry, which was increased by an open letter from the novelist and musicologist Romain Rolland. Gabriel Fauré took over from Dubois as director.

The music of Dubois includes operas, oratorios and three symphonies. His best known work is the oratorio Les sept paroles du Christ (1867), which continues to get an occasional airing, although none of his pieces are regularly performed now. Dubois' Toccata (1889) for the organ is also one of his more widely known pieces. He has had a more lasting influence in teaching, with his theoretical works Traité de contrepoint et de fugue (on counterpoint and fugue) and Traité d'harmonie théorique et pratique (on harmony) still being used today.

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