BERLIOZ, HEcnou. a fertile musical composer, was b. Dec. 11, 1903, at La-Cote St.-Andr6, in the department of Isere. France, where• his father was a physician. Against his father's wishes, who intended him to follow the medical profession, he devoted himself to music. and proceeding to Paris, studied at the conservatoire de musique under Lesucur and Beicha. In 1828. the second prize at the conservatoire was awarded to him; and in 1830, his cantata of ,Sirdanapalus won the first. He now went to Italy, where he resided about two years; and on his return, published several compost. tions, the merits of which were much canvassed. His works are too numerous for specification; but among the most successful are the symphonies of Harold. Romeo tt Jallttte, and the Sympleonie Fanebre et Twiozapkale, the requiem for the funeral of gen. Darnrinnont, 1837; the overture to Carat:cal Ronatla, and the. Ilymne.4.1a France, per
formed Aug. 1, 1844, by an orchestra of almost a thousand musicians. B. afterwards conducted many concerts in Russia, Germany, and England. In 1839, he was made a chevalier of the legion of honor; and in 1856, was elected a member of the institute at Paris. He was also librarian to the conservatoire. The of the compositions of B. consists in their endeavor to make instrumental music the exponent of particular feelings as well as general (motions. Some critics are of opinion that this notion has led the composer into extravagance and incoherence; while others speak in high terms of the freshness and individuality which characterize his style, and look upon him as the chief of the romantic school of music. B. died 9th Mar., 1869.