DAVID, dfi'vM', CEsAn (1810-76). A distinguished French composer. He was born at Cadenet, Vaucluse. At first a chorister and later chapel - master in the cathedral at Aix, lie entered at twenty the Paris Conservatory, where lie studied with Benoist (organ), Fetis (composition), and Reber (harmony). ills uncle cut off paltry monthly allowance of 50 francs, and David had to give lessons. He joined the Saint-Simonists, but their commune broke up at Alenil-Montant in 1833: with a number of fellow dreamers be went to the East—Turkey, Egypt, and Syria. After two years of hardship and suf fering he returned to France, rich in novel expe riences. The fruit of his journeys, Mcc/odics oricnta/cs. received scant notice, and David re tired for More serious study and composition. but his first symphony (1838) had a like fate. In 1844 his 'symphonic ode,' Le d('sert, was per formed at the Conservatory amid tumults of ap plause, which continued day after day at the successive performances of the work. Ills next productions, the oratorio Moisr an Sinai (1846), the symphonic ode Cbristophr entomb (1847), and the mystery L'Eden (1848), had little success. But he was now a recognized master: even his earliest compositions found a hear ring, and the doors of every theatre were open for -his new works, chiefly operas. La pride do f;n:si/ (1851) was received with acclamation, :tad a national prize of 20.000 francs was award
ed (in 1867) to his ifcreidcracum, produced at the Grand GpC.ra in 1859. La/b/ Bonk], 11862) was equally successful, hut Le Saphir (1865) found less favor. La eaplirc was withdrawn 1,v the composer before it was performed. In 18c..: lie was appointed an officer of the Legion of Bonin-, and in 1869 elected to succeed Berlioz at the Institute and as a librarian of the Conserva toire de Slusiqne in Paris. His compositions in clude also chamber music, songs, and pieces for solo instruments. David, the 'musical I frient al ist; occupies a singular position in the history of music: he inaugurated a new movement. During his long years of wandering in the East lie absorbed the quaint and weird melo dies, and to express these in the most gorgeous orchestral colors that a rich fancy could think of was his task. it was the easier as Ber lioz (q.v.) had already worked out orchestral effects that glowed and blazed, and it remained only to give them an Orkmtal setting, which David did in Lc dr'sert and subsequent works. Ilis followers were numerous, and among them the most famous—Bizet (Djamil,h ; Les pi eheurs des perks), Massenet (Rol de Lahore), and Dilibes (Lakmo—were the most directly in fluenced. He died at Saint Germain-en-Laye. Consult Azevedo, TYlicien David (Paris, 1863).