Theodore Bedouret

Théodore Bédouret was born in France in the 19th century; his exact date and place of birth are currently unknown. As a composer he used the pseudonym Albert Mérault, and occasionally also the name G.-W. Pickens.
Bédouret was active as a composer and songwriter at least from the 1890s. One of his earliest known compositions is the religious song "La première nuit de Bethléem", published in 1894 to a text by Abbé L. Jean under his real name Théodore Bédouret. In 1897 a collection entitled "Chansons simples", with both words and music by Bédouret, was published in Paris by Veuve E. Girod.
During the first decade of the 20th century he increasingly published under the name Albert Mérault. His known compositions include the orchestral suite "Imperator" from 1904 and a number of songs, chansons and lighter pieces. In 1905 he wrote the music for the local revue "Ah ! Manss' ! plus d'amour !", which was performed at the Alcazar in Le Mans. Further works from this period include "La dernière" and "Idylle de cochons", both published in 1909, as well as the mélodie "Les troupeaux" from 1912.
Mérault remained musically active for many years. In 1931 he prepared the orchestration of F. Leponte's tango "La Rose rouge" in Geneva. This establishes a direct connection between him and the musical life of Geneva.
Théodore Bédouret died on 16 December 1946. His exact place of death has not yet been established.

In my possession are two autograph manuscripts of compositions by Théodore Bédouret. Both works are scored for piano and are titled "C'est un bapteme" and "Fa Re Do". "C'est un bapteme" is dated 1943 and dedicated to Edoardo Farner, "Fa Re Do" is undated. Both works are written under the pseudonym Albert Merault.