Marcel Lucien Tournier was born in Paris in 1879. He studied the harp under R. Martenot and then Alphonse Hasselmans at the Paris Conservatoire, where he was awarded the first prize in harp in 1899. Tournier then took counterpoint and fugue and composition lessons with Georges Caussade and Charles Lenepveu, and in 1909 won the second Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata La Roussalka. That same year, the Institut de France awarded him the Rossini prize for another cantata,Laure et Pétrarque. ln 1912 he was appointed harp professor at the Paris Conservatoire where he trained several students, a number of whom became well-known soloists.
Marcel Tournier was an innovator and added numerous sound effects to the range of the harp. Most of his compositions were written for harp, including Jazz Band, Pièces nègres, Two Sonatines Op.30 and 45, and the four suites of Images Op.29, all published by Éditions Henry Lemoine. Marcel Tournier died in Paris in 1951.
- ISMN: 9790230933018 (M230933018)
