Born in
Ypres, the son of General
Pierre François Joseph Durutte, he was destined for a military career. He studied at the
Lycée Louis-le-Grand and then at the
École Polytechnique both in Paris from 1823 to 1825. It was only after the death of his father in 1827 that he turned to music. He conceived a mathematical
musical theory based on the work of
Josef Hoëné-Wronski and which he presented in his books
Esthétique musical (1855) and
Technie harmonique (1876). His theories were not very fruitful for musical practice and were only taken up in isolation, for example by
Edgar Varèse. Durutte also composed several operas,
religious music and
chamber music. Durutte died in Paris at age 77. == Works ==