Emmanuel Alexis Chabrier (January 18, 1841 ? September 13, 1894) was a French composer from the Auvergne region of central France. From 1861 until 1880 he was employed in the French Ministry of the Interior; afterwards, he devoted himself to music.
His Idylle from Pieces pictoresque greatly influenced Francis Poulenc, who wrote in his book Emmanuel Chabrier, "Even today I tremble with emotion in thinking of the miracle that was produced: a harmonic universe suddenly opened in front of me, and my music has never forgotten this first loving kiss." (Ivry 1996)
