Cecile Chaminade - Automne Flashcards
Who was Cecile Chaminade?
Cécile Chaminade was a French pianist and composer from the late Romantic period. She was born in Paris in 1857, and died in Monte Carlo in 1944, at the age of 86.
When was the romantic period and the late romantic period?
Romantic period was from the 1810-1900.
Late Romantic period was from (c.1860-c.1920)
Tell me about Chaminade’s childhood
Her earliest music lessons were with her mother, who was a pianist and singer. Chaminade’s abilities in piano performance and composition were evident from an early age, and the composer Georges Bizet (who was a neighbour and family acquaintance) encouraged her to develop her talents further. Her parents would not allow her to become a student at the Paris Conservatoire, so she studied privately with some of the teachers there, including Félix Le Couppey and Benjamin Godard
What impacted Chaminade’s composition style?
The death of her father in 1887 may have been a catalyst for a change of focus, and most of her later works were smaller-scale piano pieces and songs (mélodies). These pieces, often described as “salon style” (music that “aims to please rather than to be profound”) were mainly intended for amateur performances
What achievement did Chaminade get?
she was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1913, becoming the first female composer to achieve that recognition
Name some of Chaminade’s contemporaries
Some of Chaminade’s contemporaries include Moszkowski, Puccini, Strauss and Rachmaninoff,
List some of Chaminade’s compositions
Chaminade composed around 200 works for piano, include etudes, e.g. 6 etudes de concert. Her major works include Concertstuck (Concert piece) for piano and orchestra, the dramatic symphony Les Amazones (The Amazons)
Describe Chaminade’s compositional style
Chaminade’s compositions belong to the French late Romantic period (c. 1860-c.1920). her compositional role models were often composers from the early Romantic period such as Mendelssohn and Schumann. She showed little interest in the impressionistic style of her younger compatriots Debussy and Ravel, and no interest in modernism.
What were the characteristics of Chaminade’s compositional style?
Stylistic characteristics of Chaminade’s compositional style include:
- lyrical melodies, in long, flowing phrases, to be played in a cantabile manner.
- wide dynamic and emotional range, with detailed expressive instructions.
- use of a wide keyboard range, and of widely-spaced broken chord textures, requiring extensive use of the sustaining pedal.
- expressive variations of tempo,
What is an etude?
An etude (French for “study”) is a work written to help train the performer in a specific aspect of technique. The etude is often based on a single thematic idea, or motive, which contains the particular difficulty. Chaminade composed many etudes throughout her career.
When was Automne published?
The 6 etudes de concert were first published in 1886. Each piece was dedicated to one of Chaminade’s friends.
Tell me about the piece ‘Automne’
Automne was dedicated to the Polish/French composer and pianist Hélène Kryzanowska. Its main technical focus is the development of a cantabile style, although there is also an opportunity for more virtuosic display in the central section.
Tell me about the meaning behind the piece ‘Automne’
Autumn is a common theme in literature and music, often associated with fading beauty and nostalgia. The composer describes the opening section of Automne as being inspired by nature. It depicts the season of the year when nature is at peace, and when beautiful days of the past are relived, with an awareness that they are drawing to a close. The sense of reverie is interrupted by the more turbulent middle section, like a blast of wind that hints at stormy days to come.
What key and form is Automne in?
Automne is in D flat major, in ternary (ABA) form. Each main section also contains a ternary substructure.
What does lento mean?
Lento means slow
