Robert Planel was a major figure in twentieth-century musical education and composition in France. He was born into a family of musicians, specifically music educators, and from an early age studied violin, harmony, counterpoint, and composition at the Paris Conservatoire. He was awarded the famous Prix de Rome in 1933 and studied in Rome with the noted composer Jacques Ibert. In addition to his success in composition, Planel also had a distinguished career as a music educator in France. In 1946 he was named Inspector General of Teaching Music in Paris and continued a long relationship with the Paris Conservatoire by serving on the panels of many exams. Many of his pieces were, in fact, written to be played by students in contests and examinations at the Conservatoire and include works for instruments such as the saxophone.
-- Kyle Blaha