Gabriel Marie was born in Paris, France, on January 8, 1852. After
completing his music study at the Paris Conservatory he served for six
years as chorusmaster of the Lamoureux Orchestra. Between 1887 and 1894
he conducted the concerts of the Société nationale de musique. He later
led the orchestral performances in Bordeaux and Marseilles, and during
the summers at the Vichy Casino. He was traveling in Spain when he died
there suddenly on August 29, 1928.
Marie was a successful composer of light music for orchestra. The one
composition which has survived is _La Cinquantaine_, a sentimental piece
for orchestra which is also famous in adaptations for violin and piano,
or cello and piano. Marie described this work as an “air in the old
style.” It is in three-part song form. The first and third parts consist
of a light, delicate little air; the middle section is in a slower and
statelier style.