Paul Henrion

Paul Henrion was a French composer born and died in Paris, in 1819 and 1901 respectively. He grew up in the popular theatre of his native city, which steered much of his career towards the song, the ballroom dance and light stage music.

He studied piano with Henri Karr and harmony with P. F. Moncouteau. From 1840 onwards he achieved some success as a songwriter, among them the early Un jour. By 1878 he had composed around 1,200 songs, and Fétis listed the titles of the most popular ones. He also wrote quadrilles and polkas for piano.

His first stage work, Une rencontre dans le Danube (1854, Théâtre Lyrique), was not particularly well received. He then composed a series of operettas and pieces for the café-concerts, such as L'étudiant de Heidelberg, A la bonne franquette and Le moulin de Javel. He presided over the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs, an organisation he helped to found.