ABSTRACT
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was born 12 May 1845, in Pamiers in the south of France, and although Paris was his home from the age of nine, he maintained contact with his family and the Ariège region throughout his life. Legends abound concerning Fauré’s early contact with music1; in contrast, detailed historical information is available about his formal education in Louis Niedermeyer’s École de musique classique et religieuse, an institution which prepared musicians for the calling of organist and choirmaster but also insisted that they be literate men and receive training in the humanities. The strict, conservative curriculum of the Niedermeyer school, which Fauré entered at the age of nine, was broadened for him by his contact with Saint-Saëns, who became a lifelong friend.
