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
What does molto stringendo mean?
Molto stringendo means gradually becoming much faster (i.e pressing forward)
What does marcato mean?
Marcato means marked (i.e brought out clearly)
What does calmato mean?
Calmato means calmed, or becoming calmer
What does rit. mean?
rit. can indicate ritenuto (immediately slower) or ritardando (gradually becoming slower)
what does dolce and dolcissimo mean?
dolce means sweetly, dolcissimo means very sweetly
What does a tempo and tempo I^0 mean
a Tempo means return to the former speed; Tempo I means return to the original speed
p ma marcato meaning
p ma marcato means soft but marked (i.e distinct)
What does Con fuoco mean?
Con fuoco means with fire (i.e. spirited or with fervent energy)
What does poco slargando meam?
poco slargando means gradually becoming a little slower (broader)
What does poco piu largo mean
Poco piu largo means a little more broadly
What does appassionato mean?
Appassionato means passionate
What does sFF (sforzatissimo) mean
sff (sforzatissimo) indicates a very strong accent
what does m.d and m.g mean
m.d (main droite) means right hand, m.g (main gauche) means left hand
what does tranquillo mean?
tranquillo means calmly
What does molto agitato mean?
Molto agitato means very agitated or restless
What does tutta forza mean?
tutta forza means full strength
what does fff mean?
fff (sometimes colloquially called fortississimo) means extremely loud
what does rapido energico mean?
rapido energico means fast and energetic
What does sec mean?
sec means dry (i.e without warmth or tone)
What does a piacere mean?
A piacere means freely (i.e at the performer’s pleasure).
Tell me about Chaminade’s later life
After completing her studies, Chaminade composed some of her larger-scale works, including her first Piano Trio, Concertstück for piano and orchestra, the comic opera La Sévillane, the symphonic ballet Callirhoë, and the dramatic symphony Les Amazones, all composed in the 1880s. 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, and were very popular in their day. Music clubs were formed in her honour, some of which are still active.
Chaminade’s Concertino for flute, commissioned by the Paris Conservatoire for the annual Solo de Concours in 1902, was one of her final larger-scale compositions; it has remained in the flute repertoire. Aside from this commission, Chaminade was mostly ignored by the French musical establishment, although she was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1913, becoming the first female composer to achieve that recognition. Her popularity with the public waned after World War I, due to changing musical fashions, since her late-Romantic style was then considered to be dated. This, and ill health, led to a decline in her compositional output from the 1920s. Chaminade died in Monte Carlo in 1944, at the age of 86.
What do these terms mean Traine. ( French ) , Tres retenu
, Andante cantabile
Traine. ( French ) = take time
Tres retenu means to hold back a lot
Andante cantabile = walking pace in a singing style
