The composer and conductor of Corsican descent, Henri Tomasi, was born in Marseilles and died in Paris.

His musical studies begun in his native city were continued at the Paris National Conservatoire of Music under the guidance and lecturing of such master-musicians as Georges Caussade for counterpoint, Paul Vidal for composing, Vincent d’Indy and Philippe Gaubert for conducting.

They came to an end in 1927 with a Grand Prix de Rome and a first prize in conducting awarded unanimously.

He subsequently earned further distinctions: the Halphen Prize in 1926, the Grand French Music Prize from the S.A.C.E.M. in 1953, the Grand City of Paris Musical Prize in 1960.

He has indeed essayed every genre: concerto, tone-poem, song, ballet, opera, and the most varied and contradictory themes and characteristics are to be found in his works.

Besides, in the last ten years of his life, his composing style underwent a notable transformation. He subjected it to a fragmenting, stripping and sharpening process.