In 1938 the American film maker Ferdinand Earle started a film about early Christian history and asked Ermend Bonnal to write the music.

Because of the war, the film could not be produced.

In 1942 E. Bonnal (just like other musicians such as Maurice Duruflé and Jean Langlais) was commissioned by the Academy of Fine Arts to write a musical work.

This commission was both unexpected

and welcome because of the precarious

situation of his large family.

He composed a symphony with choir,

including an extract from the film

music in the middle movement (which

can also be performed on its own).

Unfortunately this symphony has never

been performed.

No recording of Bonnal's works was

made during the war, although the

"Trio" performed by the trio Pasquier

(Pathé) had been awarded a Great

Prize in 1939.

Nor could the "Ballet Basque" (which

was ready with libretto, music, décor

and dancers) be presented to the public

during the Occupation. In spite of appealing offers, Bonnal refused to perform in Germany.

His position as Inspector, which he conceived as entirely dedicated to music, imposed on him numerous journeys to distant places in France in harsh conditions which afflicted him physically.

He died in Bordeaux on 14 august 1944 in the course of one of those journeys, as he was to meet the members of the Quatuor Calvet in Saint-Sever (Landes).