Joseph Édouard Barat (1882-1963) was a French composer and teacher, best known for his works for wind instruments. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where he was influenced by the great musicians of his time. He devoted most of his career to working with wind ensembles and also contributed to the development of repertoire for brass and woodwind instruments. His compositions are characterised by their melodic singing, harmonic richness and technical accessibility, making them popular with students and professionals alike to this day. Barat's work combines French musical elegance with influences from Impressionism and the early 20th century. He is still considered one of the key authors in the field of pedagogical and concert music for wind instruments.