To say that French composer Albéric Magnard had a fiery disposition runs the risk of skirting bad taste.

It was on this date in 1914 that Magnard went out in a blaze of glory, when, at the age of 59, and as a civilian, he refused to surrender his property to invading German forces. After ushering his wife and two daughters out the back door, he opened fire on some trespassing soldiers, instantly killing one of them. In retaliation, the Germans set fire to his house. Magnard is assumed to have perished in conflagration. However, his body was never found.

A couple of weeks ago, I was streaming KWAX (as all good folks should), and for the first time encountered a symphony by Charlotte Sohy, written in 1917, that may have been composed in memory of Magnard. Sohy and her husband, Marcel Labey, were friends of the composer, and Sohy’s symphony shares the same key, the uncommon C-sharp minor, as Magnard’s Symphony No. 4.

Her symphony is subtitled “Grand Guerre,” or “Great War.” Marcel would survive the conflict, having served in the French army. He died in 1968. Sohy, who studied composition with Vincent d’Indy and was a cousin of Louis Durey (of “Les Six” fame), died in 1955.

Her symphony was never performed in her lifetime. It was heard for the first time in France only in 2019!

In this age of wonders, now you can enjoy it here:

Also, Magnard’s Symphony No. 4:

PHOTOS: Albéric Magnard and Charlotte Sohy