About Jean Rivier
Lived 1896 – 1987 (aged 91). Jean Rivier was a French composer.
Alexis Fernand Félix Jean Rivier (21 July 1896 – 6 November 1987) was a French composer of classical music in the neoclassical style.
The son of , a co-inventor of Armenian paper, he composed over two hundred works, including music for orchestra, chamber groups, chorus, piano, and solo instruments.
Rivier served as professor of composition at the Paris Conservatory from 1948 until his retirement in 1966. During the period 1948–1962, he shared this position with composer Darius Milhaud. Three of his notable students at the Paris Conservatory were Gareth Walters, Pedro Ipuche Riva, and Gerd Boder.
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Compositions 3 Points Seches for piano 4 Fantasmes for piano 4 Sequences Dialogues (need instrumentation) Alternances for piano Andante espressivo ed allegro burlesco (three movements) for clarinet and piano Aria for trumpet (or oboe) and organ Brillances for 2 trumpets, 2 French horns, 2 trombones and 1 tuba Capriccio (need instrumentation) Comme une tendre berceuse for flute and piano Concerto (arranged by Rene Decouais) (need instrumentation) Concerto for alto saxophone, trumpet and string orchestra (1955) Concerto for alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, 2 bassoons, trumpet, double bass Concerto for bassoon and strings (1963) Concerto for clarinet and string orchestra (1958) Concerto for flute and piano Concerto for oboe and orchestra (or piano) (1966) Concerto for trumpet and strings Concerto #1 in C for piano and orchestra (1940) Concerto Brève for piano and strings (1953) Concertino for saxophone and orchestra (or piano) Concertino for viola and orchestra (1947) Déjeuner sur l'herbe (need instrumentation) Doloroso et giocoso for viola and piano (1969) Duo for flute and clarinet in B Espagnole for violin and piano Grave et presto for saxophone quartet Nocturne, his contribution to Variations sur le nom de Marguerite Long Le petit gondolier for piano Les trois "S" for clarinet Oiseau tendre for solo flute Ouverture pour une opérette imaginaire 3 Pastorales for Orchestra (1929) Petite suite (for oboe, clarinet & bassoon, 1934) Piece in D (Pièce en Ré pour contrebasse et piano, 1920) Pour des mains amies for piano Prière (need instrumentation) Quatuor à cordes No. 1 (String Quartet No. 1) (1924) Quatuor à cordes No. 2 (1940) Rapsodie for trombone and piano Requiem (need instrumentation) Sonate for piano Sonatine for flute and piano (1946) Stridences for piano String Trio Symphony No. 1 (1931) Symphony No. 2 in C major for string orchestra (1937) Symphony No. 3 in G major for string orchestra (1937) Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major for string orchestra (1947) Symphony No. 5 in A minor (1950) Symphony No. 6 in E minor "Les Présages" (1958) Symphony No. 7 in F major "Les Contrastes" (1971) Symphony No. 8 for string orchestra (1978) Torrents for piano Trois mouvements for clarinet and piano Virevoltes for flute
His complete piano works have been published in one volume by Salabert.
Discography Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Trumpet and Orchestra appears on French Saxophone Concertos, Naxos 8.225127; and on , Koch Schwann Oiseaux tendres appears on Manuela Wiesler: Flute Music Naxos BIS-CD-689 String Quartets Nos 1 and 2. Audite 97.710 (2021) Symphonies No. 3 in G, No. 4 in B, and No. 8 (all for strings) Calmel Chamber Orchestra conducted by Bernard Calmel, on Pavane CD ADW 7328 (1994) (currently out of print)
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Important facts
People in Jean Rivier's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jean Rivier's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jean Rivier?
French composer (1896-1987)
When was Jean Rivier born?
Jean Rivier was born on 21 July 1896 in Villemomble.
When did Jean Rivier die?
Jean Rivier died on 6 November 1987 in La Penne-sur-Huveaune.
What was Jean Rivier's occupation?
Jean Rivier was a composer.
What nationality was Jean Rivier?
Jean Rivier was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jean Rivier. https://biography.guide/jean-rivier/
MLA: "Jean Rivier." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jean-rivier/.
Chicago: "Jean Rivier." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jean-rivier/.
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