Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (1899 - 1963) was a French composer and pianist. He liked to write pieces for solo piano, but he also wrote chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets and orchestral concert music. He was a member of the Paris Six (a group of French composers whose music is often seen as a defiance against Wagnerism and Impressionism). An unusually rich melodic invention is evident in his compositions. Francis Poulenc did not have a classical compositional education and perhaps that is why he brought new melodies, insight, wit and elegance to French music.