Born into a notable Parisian family in 1865, Albéric Magnard resisted the support of his family's comfortable wealth (yet also accepted it). The conflict of begrudgingly accepting financial support and wanting to make a name for himself by his own efforts led Magnard into a rather difficult personality. An object of envy for his family’s wealth and called a dilettante wannabe composer despite his exemplary school record and superb compositions, he became resistant to friendships that could be seen as helping him along in his career. He developed few connections within the Parisian musical world. He published his own music independently. He financed concerts of his own music. Politics also set him apart. While others in the Paris musical scene tried to stay neutral, Magnard was idealistic and thought of music as a means to achieving social justice and truth (and composed works specifically toward that end). He even met his end in 1914 by defending his home outside Paris from advancing Germans by firing on them. They shot back and burned his home with him in it. Many of his compositions also perished in the fire so we haven't many today.

Magnard finished his Symphony No. 3 in 1896, an eventful year; he also married and became a tutor at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, a rival institution to the Paris Conservatoire. His music sometimes compared to Bruckner or Mahler, Magnard's Symphony #3 is today's Midday Masterpiece at 2:00 pm.