Jean Gabriel Prosper Marie (1852-1928), known professionally as Gabriel-Marie studied at the Paris Conservatoire and hyphenated as a professional music, was a prominent and active figure in Parisian musical life in the late 19th-century. He worked as a timpanist, chorus master and conductor for many years, mostly in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Vichy, alongside his work as a composer and music critic.

Works include La Cinquantaine (“The Golden Wedding”, 1887) for cello and piano, for octet, and in various other arrangements. He also composed many dance pieces, notably the waltz Sous les firnes (“Under the Ash Trees”, 1884) and the highly original polka Frais minois (“Fresh Face”). Sérénade Badine achieved some popularity by its numerous arrangements, including those for saxophone and piano, and cello and piano, as did other chamber works and light works for orchestra.

La Cinquantaine (The Golden Wedding) was composed in 1884 and is subtitled ‘air dans le Style ancien’. It has been arranged for almost every possible…