Barcarolle_in_F_major_(Saint-Saëns)

Barcarolle (Saint-Saëns)

Barcarolle (Saint-Saëns)

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Camille Saint-Saëns's Barcarolle in F major, Op. 108 is a chamber composition for a quartet consisting of violin, cello, harmonium (or organ) and piano. Composed in 1898, the work also exists in a version for violin, cello, viola and piano created by the composer in 1909.[1][2][3]

Cover of first edition (1898)

Background

The Barcarolle was Saint-Saëns's second attempt at composing for this combination of instruments, with an 1897 attempt being abandoned after five and a half pages.[2] In 1865 he had composed the Serenade Op. 15 for a similar combination with a viola rather than a cello as the fourth instrument.[4] In the first performance, which took place at the musical society La Trompette on 18 May 1898, the piano was played by Louis Diémer, the violin by Guillaume Rémy, the cello by Jules Delsart, with the composer playing the harmonium.[3][5][6]

The work is dedicated to Antonio Jeanbernat, who initiated two festivals of Saint-Saëns' works in Barcelona.[7]

Structure

The composition is structured as a single movement marked Allegretto moderato.[3] Performance time is around 8 to 10 minutes.

References

Notes
  1. [1]
    (Fenech 2009)
  2. [2]
    (Smith 1992, p. 17)
  3. [3]
    (Smith 1992, p. 311)
  4. [4]
    (Smith 1992, p. 81)
  5. [5]
    (Anderson 2013)
  6. [6]
    (Ratner 2002, p. 208)
  7. [7]
    (Ratner 2002, p. 207)
Sources
  • Anderson, Keith (2013). Saint-Saëns, C.: Piano Quartet/Piano Quintet/Barcarolle (CD). Naxos Records. 8.572904. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
  • Fenech, Gerald (2009). "Review of Saint-Saëns, Piano Quartets, MDG 9431519-6". Classical Net. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  • Smith, Rollin (1992). Saint-Saëns and the Organ. Pendragon Press. ISBN 978-0-945193-14-2.
  • Ratner, Sabina Teller (2002). Camille Saint-Saëns, 1835–1922: A Thematic Catalogue of his Complete Works, Volume 1: The Instrumental Works. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-816320-6.
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