Claude Arrieu (1903-1990) was the pen name of Louise-Marie Simon, French composer with an astonishing output in several genres. Her compositional style is mostly neoclassical, and words such as “spice” and “humour” frequently describe her music as well as a talent for melodies. She has written music for radio theatre and opera, staged theatre and opera, film and tv, orchestral music, concertos, chamber music and songs. Some people claim it is her vocal music that is her best, others say that nobody could write for woodwind instruments like her.
Piano was her first instrument, but she also studied in the famous composition class of Paul Dukas at the Paris conservatoire (in the picture you find her seated to the right, you can also spot her classmates Yvonne Desportes dressed in white, and to the left of her Elsa Barraine).
In 1932 she received first prize in composition at the conservatoire, and later several of her film scores won her prizes too. After graduation she worked as composer and producer at the French national radio. She was particularly interested in sound effects and electronic music/sounds.
Suggested listening:
The woodwind quintet in C
The woodwind quartet
The reed trio
The wind tentett
The flute sonata
The clarinet sonata
The quartet for four clarinets
The concerto for two pianos and orchestra