Henri Rosellen (Born October 13, 1811, Paris – Died March 20, 1876, Paris)

French pianist, composer, and educator. Born to a father who was an instrument maker. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in October 1823, enrolling in a solfège class, and the following year, he registered for both piano and harmony/practical accompaniment (score reading) classes. In the piano department, he first studied under Louis-Barthélemy Pradher (1782-1841). He received a second prize in Pradher's class, but when Professor Pradher retired in January 1828, Rosellen transferred to Professor Zimmermann's class, remaining there until the 1829-30 academic year. He left the piano department without having obtained a first prize. Meanwhile, in 1830, he served as an assistant in the solfège class. As a student, he won a second prize in the harmony and practical accompaniment class in 1828, and subsequently completed his studies at the Conservatoire, studying harmony and counterpoint with Fétis and then Halévy (1828-33), and composition with Berton (1832-35). Outside the Conservatoire, he also received instruction from Henri Herz.

Rosellen subsequently made a living in Paris as a piano teacher, composer, and pianist. A prolific composer, Rosellen published works up to opus number 194 during his lifetime. The majority of these were fantasies based on themes from operas and ballets, ranging from simple pieces for learners to highly advanced works that showcased his own performing abilities to the fullest. Many of these were based on works by composers popular at the time, such as Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, and Dourdouvez, and appear to have been written at the request of publishers, indeed bringing considerable profit to them (according to Fétis, publishers called Rosellen their "savior").

Rosellen's works employ brilliant technique no less splendid than that of Thalberg, who was one year his senior, and are crafted without compromising their dignity. Among his original piano solo works, particularly noteworthy are 12 Études brillantes, Op. 60 (dedicated to Fétis, 1844), Nocturne et Tarantelle, Op. 92 (1847), Ballade, Op. 132 (1852), and Sonata, Op. 172 (1861). Furthermore, his Piano Trio, Op. 82 (1846), his only published chamber work, along with the sonata, represents the fusion of the fruits of his rigorous compositional studies and his own brilliant pianism. His pedagogical works include Méthode de piano, Op. 116 (1849), and Manuel du pianiste, which contains considerations from an anatomical perspective. In addition, there are numerous arrangements (for solo piano and piano four-hands) published without opus numbers.

References

• François-Joseph Fétis, « Rosellen (Henri) », Biographie universelle des musiciens et bibliographie générale de la musique, vol. 7, Paris, Firmin-Didot, 1878, p. 311.
• Philippe Morant, « Rosellen, Henri », Dictionnaire de la musique en France au XIXe siècle, Paris, 2003, p. 1088.