French music, from the death of Berlioz to the death of Fauré / by Martin Cooper.
| Author/creator | Cooper, Martin |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | London, New York : Oxford University Press, [1961] |
| Description | viii, 239 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | Oxford paperbacks ; 33 |
| Contents | Prologue, and music between 1870-80. French music in the middle of the 19th century ; Described by Saint-Saens ; Early careers of Gounod, Saint-Saens and Massenet ; Franck ; Lalo ; Delibes -- 1889-90. D'Indy ; Lalo's Roi d'Ys ; Chabrier and the impact of Wagner ; Massenet's Manon ; Franck's last decade ; Gounod's old age ; Alkan -- 1890-1900 (I). The Germanic influence ; Wagner and the fusion of the arts ; The Revue Wagnerienne ; Foundation of the Schola Cantorum ; Atmosphere of the Franck circle ; Duparc and Chausson ; Lekeu and the danger of idealistic inflation ; D'Indy's opinions -- 1890-1900 (II). The French way ; Faure and the smaller forms ; Early carreer of Debussy ; His attitude to Wagner ; The impact of Russian music ; Satie ; Sources of Debussy's style ; Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un Faune ; Debussy as song-writer -- Opera, 1890-1910. Massenet ; Bruneau ; Charpentier ; D'Indy ; Debussy ; Dukas ; Messager and the operetta -- Conservatoire composers, 1900-14. The conservatoire and the Schola Cantorum ; Ravel ; His writing for the piano ; Comparison with Debussy ; Debussy's preludes ; Faure's piano music ; Penelope ; Debussy's later orchestral works ; Diaghilev and the Russian ballet ; Schmitt and Dukas -- The Schola Cantorum, 1900-14. D'Indy as teacher and composer ; The Schola composers ; Severac ; Magnard ; Breville ; Liturgical organ music -- Transition and revolt, 1910-20. Early works of Roussel ; The new interest in ballet ; Debussy's last works ; Ravel ; Satie ; Satie and Cocteau ; 'Les six' ; Tailleferre ; Milhaud and polytonality ; Honegger ; Poulenc ; Auric ; Stravinsky and Satie -- Epilogue, after 1920. Tradition and innovation in French music ; Lesser figures reviewed ; The last works of d'Indy and Ravel ; Faure and the end of an era ; Roussel and tradition. |
| Abstract | This is the first study in English of a most fruitful half-century of music - that between 1869 and 1924. The composers who emerged between the death of Berlioz and the death of Faure include Gounod, Saint-Saens, Bizet, Massenet, Franck, Chabrier, d'Indy, Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Schmitt, Roussel, Milhaud, and Poulenc. The qualities of French music, as of French art, are those of logic, clarity, moderation and balance. Music in France, longer than elsewhere, has remained the art of arranging sounds in agreeable and intellectually satisfying patterns. The author makes no extravagant claim for these composers. He does not believe that skill and intelligence can replace individual genius. But French art has always been a valuable and necessary corrective to English taste and by 1924, where this book ends, the movement which originated in Paris had spread to every European country. Most modern music - whether it be by Stravinsky, Constant Lambert or Falla - is indebted to this French heritage. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-219) and index. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML270.4.C7 F7 1961 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |