_Léo Delibes' music is typically French and is full of that "esprit" so characteristic of our neighbours. A pupil of Adolphe Adam, Delibes seems to have acquired his master's lightness of touch and gift of melody, to which he was able to add a quality of distinction which the composer of "Le Postillon de Lonjumeau" did not possess._ _It is, however, with the living that we are concerned, and, having paid a passing tribute to the memory of the above deceased musicians, I will now proceed with my task, once more claiming the indulgence of my readers, and begging them to bear in mind that, whatever defects may be noticeable in these imperfect sketches, I can at least claim that they have been written in perfect good faith._ _ARTHUR HERVEY._ _P.S.--Among the books that I have had occasion to consult I may mention especially Mons. Adolphe Jullien's "Musiciens d'Aujourd'hui," Mons. Pagnerre's "Charles Gounod," Mlle. de Bovet's "Life of Gounod," Mons. Hugues Imbert's "Profils de Musiciens," and "Nouveaux Profils de Musiciens."_ _I also take this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to my friend, Mr. Robin H. Legge, for having been instrumental in procuring for me information of a valuable nature._ _A.H._ _July 1893._ _Note.--Since these sketches were written, the death of Charles Gounod has deprived France of one of her greatest musicians. The composer of "Faust" died on the 18th of October (1893), the anniversary of the first performance of his opera, "La Nonne Sanglante," which was produced in 1854. His loss is one that will be mourned, not by France alone, but by all other nations, and Englishmen will not forget that their country was the birthplace of the "Redemption" and "Mors et Vita."_ _A. H._ CONTENTS PAGE AMBROISE THOMAS 1 CHARLES GOUNOD 37 CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS 107 JULES MASSENET 173 ERNEST REYER 207 ALFRED BRUNEAU 223 SOME OTHER FRENCH COMPOSERS 253 APPENDIX 277 ILLUSTRATIONS CH. GOUNOD _Frontispiece_ AMBROISE THOMAS _To face p._ 1 CH. GOUNOD " 37 FACSIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH SCORE BY GOUNOD " 92 CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS " 107 FACSIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH SCORE OF "SAMSON ET DALILA" " 144 JULES MASSENET " 173 FACSIMILE OF AUTOGRAPH SCORE OF "WERTHER" " 200 ERNEST REYER " 207 ALFRED BRUNEAU " 223