A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Laurent de Rillé, François

by J. A. Fuller-Maitland

LAURENT DE RILLÉ, François Anatole, the composer of an enormous number of part-songs and other small choral works, born at Orleans in 1828. He was at first intended to be a painter, but altered his purpose and studied music under an Italian named Comoghio, and subsequently under Elwart. His compositions, of which a list of the most important is given in the supplement to Fétis, have enjoyed a lasting popularity with 'orphéoniste' societies, and although they contain few if any characteristics which would recommend them to the attention of earnest musicians, they have that kind of vigorous effectiveness which is exactly suited to their purpose. A large number of operettas of very slight construction have from time to time been produced in Paris, and the composer has made various more or less successful essays in the department of church music.

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