A versatile and prolific composer, whose piano works share an idiom not far removed from Poulenc and other French contemporaries, Jacques Ibert wrote music that combined elegance with a ready sense of humour. Having studied dramatic art before turning to music, he was acutely aware of the strong visual images that music could create. With the exception of oratorio, he composed in every genre, and made a significant contribution to music for the emerging film industry. Ibert’s output for solo piano, though not extensive, consists mainly of short pieces each of which is notable for its own distinctive charm and highly evocative images.