Intended by his parents for a more conventional career than that of a musician, the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier was from 1861 employed in the Ministry of the Interior in Paris, only devoting himself fully to music from 1880. His compositions include some colourful orchestral compositions and piano music that had a marked influence on his immediate successors.

Orchestral Music

Chabrier's most popular composition is his Spanish rhapsody España. To this one may add the occasional Joyeuse marche and his Suite pastorale, an arrangement of some of his own piano pieces.

Piano Music

The ten Pièces pittoresques, some of which were orchestrated by Chabrier in his Suite pastorale, are inventive in harmony and melody and attractive in form. They range from a simple landscape, Paysage, to a Menuet pompeux and a final Scherzo-valse.

101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 7	Art & Music: Cezanne - Music of His Time	Art & Music: Degas - Music of His Time
Art & Music: Manet - Music of His Time	Art & Music: Monet - Music of His Time	Art & Music: Van Gogh - Music of His Time
BEST OF NAXOS 6	BIZET, G.: Jeux d'enfants / La jolie fille de Perth Suite / CHABRIER, E.: Suite pastorale (Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Lindenberg) (1953)	BLACK DYKE MILLS BAND: Classic Brass
BOLERO AND OTHER SPANISH FAVOURITES	BOLERO AND OTHER SPANISH FAVOURITES	CHABRIER, E.: Suite pastorale / Espana / Fete polonaise / Joyeuse marche (Fournet) (1953)
CHABRIER, E.: Une education manquee (Castelli, Collart, Depraz, Bruck) (1954)	CHABRIER: Espana / Joyeuse marche / Suite pastorale	CHABRIER: Piano Works, Vol. 1
CHABRIER: Piano Works, Vol. 2	CHABRIER: Piano Works, Vol. 3	DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Favourite Encores