(b Angers, 22 Jan 1916). French composer. He studied with the Gallons, Büsser and Emmanuel at the Paris Conservatoire (1933-8), where he was appointed professor in 1970 after periods with French radio (1943-63) and at the Ecole Normale de Musique (from 1961). His first works suggest influences from Debussy, Ravel, Roussel and Honegger, but he developed as an isolated and independent figure, producing a relatively small output of great breadth and originality, predominantly of instrumental works; they include two symphonies (1950, 1959) and other orchestral pieces, piano music and the string quartet Ainsi la nuit (1976).

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