Arthur Honegger, a Swiss composer, was born on March 10, 1892, in Le Havre, France, and spent much of his life in Paris. He retained his Swiss nationality throughout his life.
Honegger began his musical training in Paris, continued it in Zurich when his parents moved there, and later returned to Paris to study with Charles-Marie Widor and Vincent d'Indy. As a member of the composers' group "Les Six," he developed a distinctive style.
Among his best-known works is the orchestral piece "Pacific 231," which imitates the sounds of a steam locomotive. He achieved particular fame in the early 1920s with the dramatic psalm "Le Roi David" ("King David"), which is still performed by many choirs today.
Honegger began his musical studies in Paris, continued them in Zurich when his parents moved there, and later returned to Paris to study with Charles-Marie Widor and Vincent d'Indy. During the interwar period, Honegger composed numerous works, including the oratorio "Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher," one of his most outstanding pieces, which tells the story of Joan of Arc. Other important compositions include the suite "Prélude, Fugue, Postlude" based on "Amphion" and the "Concerto da camera" for flute, English horn, and strings, which was completed in 1948 and premiered in 1949.
In 1926, Honegger married the pianist Andrée Vaurabourg, with whom he frequently toured and who played the piano parts of his compositions. The couple had a daughter, Pascale, born in 1932. Honegger also had a son, Jean-Claude (1926–2003), whose mother was the singer Claire Croiza.
His last significant collaboration was the radio play "Saint-François d'Assise" with Aguet, completed in June 1949. This musical-literary radio work was performed by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under the direction of Ernest Ansermet and is considered his "most important and beautiful" collaboration with Aguet. Honegger died on November 27, 1955.