The Élégie (Elegy), Op. 24, was written by the French composer Gabriel Fauré in 1880, and first published and performed in public in 1883. Originally for cello and piano, the piece was later orchestrated by Fauré. The work features a sad and somber opening and climaxes with an intense, tempestuous central section before returning to the elegiac opening theme in C minor.
In 1880, having completed his First Piano Quartet, Fauré began work on a cello sonata. His frequent practice was to compose the slow movement of a work first, and he did so for the new sonata.[1] The completed movement was probably premiered at the salon of Camille Saint-Saëns in June 1880. The movement, like the quartet, is in the key of C minor. Whether the rest of the sonata would have been in that key is unknown: Fauré never completed it, and in January 1883, the slow movement was published as a stand-alone piece under the title Élégie.[1]
Jules Loeb, dedicatee and cellist at the premiere
Pablo Casals, who premiered the orchestral version
The first performance of the work under its new title was given at the Société Nationale de Musique in December 1883 by the composer and the cellist Jules Loeb to whom the piece is dedicated.[2][n 1] The Élégie was a great success from the outset.[1] The conductor Édouard Colonne asked Fauré for a version for cello and orchestra. Fauré agreed, and that version was premiered at the Société Nationale in April 1901, with Pablo Casals as a soloist and the composer as conductor.[2]
Musical structureedit
The piece is in the AABA CC Trans-D AC'C'coda form, in which the musical material of the beginning returns to close the piece after a contrasting middle section. The opening is a somber, long-breathed melody. The cello carries the main thematic material, with the piano providing a harmonically varied accompaniment. In the major-key middle section, the piano bears the melodic theme before it passes to the cello. The middle section ends with a forceful passage in which the piano and cello exchange vehement themes. The dynamics remain loud as the first section returns, but the quiet sombreness of the opening soon takes over. The repeated opening theme is matched with some of the rhythmic features carried over from the middle section. The work ends in an atmosphere of calm.[4]
The Fauré specialist Jean-Michel Nectoux writes that the Élégie was one of the last works in which the composer allowed himself "such a direct expression of pathos." Nectoux regards the piece as "one of the last manifestations of French musical Romanticism. From now on, Fauré's music was to be more introverted and discreet."[1]
Élégie
Performed by Hans Goldstein (cello) and Eli Kalman (piano)
^ Jules-Léopold Loeb (13 May 1852 – 4 November 1933) later became cello professor at the Paris Conservatoire, where his pupils included André Navarra in the 1920s.[3]
Élégie, fauré, Élégie, elegy, written, french, composer, gabriel, fauré, 1880, first, published, performed, public, 1883, originally, cello, piano, piece, later, orchestrated, fauré, work, features, somber, opening, climaxes, with, intense, tempestuous, centra. The Elegie Elegy Op 24 was written by the French composer Gabriel Faure in 1880 and first published and performed in public in 1883 Originally for cello and piano the piece was later orchestrated by Faure The work features a sad and somber opening and climaxes with an intense tempestuous central section before returning to the elegiac opening theme in C minor Faure in early middle age Contents 1 Composition 2 Musical structure 3 Notes and references 4 External linksComposition editIn 1880 having completed his First Piano Quartet Faure began work on a cello sonata His frequent practice was to compose the slow movement of a work first and he did so for the new sonata 1 The completed movement was probably premiered at the salon of Camille Saint Saens in June 1880 The movement like the quartet is in the key of C minor Whether the rest of the sonata would have been in that key is unknown Faure never completed it and in January 1883 the slow movement was published as a stand alone piece under the title Elegie 1 nbsp Jules Loeb dedicatee and cellist at the premiere nbsp Pablo Casals who premiered the orchestral version The first performance of the work under its new title was given at the Societe Nationale de Musique in December 1883 by the composer and the cellist Jules Loeb to whom the piece is dedicated 2 n 1 The Elegie was a great success from the outset 1 The conductor Edouard Colonne asked Faure for a version for cello and orchestra Faure agreed and that version was premiered at the Societe Nationale in April 1901 with Pablo Casals as a soloist and the composer as conductor 2 Musical structure edit nbsp The piece is in the AABA CC Trans D AC C coda form in which the musical material of the beginning returns to close the piece after a contrasting middle section The opening is a somber long breathed melody The cello carries the main thematic material with the piano providing a harmonically varied accompaniment In the major key middle section the piano bears the melodic theme before it passes to the cello The middle section ends with a forceful passage in which the piano and cello exchange vehement themes The dynamics remain loud as the first section returns but the quiet sombreness of the opening soon takes over The repeated opening theme is matched with some of the rhythmic features carried over from the middle section The work ends in an atmosphere of calm 4 The orchestral version of the work requires two flutes two oboes two clarinets two bassoons four horns and strings to accompany the cellist The Faure specialist Jean Michel Nectoux writes that the Elegie was one of the last works in which the composer allowed himself such a direct expression of pathos Nectoux regards the piece as one of the last manifestations of French musical Romanticism From now on Faure s music was to be more introverted and discreet 1 nbsp Elegie source source Performed by Hans Goldstein cello and Eli Kalman piano Problems playing this file See media help Notes and references editNotes Jules Leopold Loeb 13 May 1852 4 November 1933 later became cello professor at the Paris Conservatoire where his pupils included Andre Navarra in the 1920s 3 References a b c d Nectoux p 89 a b Nectoux p 535 Crichton Ronald Navarra Andre Grove Music Online Oxford University Press accessed 18 November 2013 subscription required Nectoux pp 88 89 SourcesNectoux Jean Michel 1991 Gabriel Faure A Musical Life Translated by Roger Nichols Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 23524 3 External links editElegie Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elegie Faure amp oldid 1164233393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
