France

25 December

December 25th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Chevalier de Saint-Georges, December, I: Allegro, Symphony No. 1

Chevalier de Saint-Georges 25 December 1745 – 9 June 1799

Symphony No. 1 I: Allegro

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
By Mather Brown, William Ward – National Portrait Gallery, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122498240

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, was a famous French violinist, composer, conductor – and also a champion fencer and excellent horse rider. He was born on 25 December 1745 on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. His father was a rich white plantation owner, and his mother, Nanon, was an enslaved Black woman. As a child he was taken to France, where he went to school and trained in fencing and music.

By his late teens he was one of the best fencers in Paris and became an officer in the king’s bodyguard. At the same time, he was stunning audiences as a violin soloist. He led one of the finest orchestras in Europe and wrote violin concertos, string quartets, symphonies and operas.

Because of racism, some singers blocked him from becoming director of the Paris Opera. During the French Revolution he became a soldier and led a unit of “citizens of colour”. He was later jailed during the Reign of Terror. Saint-Georges died in 1799, aged 53. Today he is often called the first famous Black classical composer.

23 December

December 23rd

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music de Boismortier, December, Sonata No. 2 for Flute and Violin

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier 23 December 1689 – 28 October 1755

Sonata No. 2 for Flute and Violin Op 51

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier
By Jean Ranc – http://www.artsunlight.com/artist-NR/N-R0016-Jean-Ranc/N-R0016-0010-joseph-bodin-de-boismortier-prisant-du-tabac.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1406318

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier was a famous French composer born in 1689. He lived during the Baroque and Rococo periods, times known for beautiful and detailed music and art. Boismortier wrote many types of music, including chamber music, cantatas, opéra-ballets, and vocal pieces. Unusually, he did not have wealthy patrons to support him. Instead, he earned money by selling his music to the public, which was rare for composers at that time. He published over 100 works and became very successful.

Boismortier was the first French composer to use the Italian concerto form, which is a piece for a solo instrument and orchestra. He wrote for many instruments, especially the flute, and even created an instruction book for it. His music was popular because it was elegant and creative. He was known for being forgetful and sometimes did not conduct his own music.

Today, his music is still played, especially his sonatas for flute and harpsichord.

20 December

December 20th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Aubry, December, La Grande Cascade, The Mouse Theme from "The Gruffalo"

René Aubry Born 20 December 1956

The Mouse Theme from "The Gruffalo"

La Grande Cascade

René Aubry
By manaidb.com – http://www.maniadb.com/artist/129376?o=d, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94059868

René Aubry is a remarkable composer known for his ability to intertwine classical music with modern sounds. As a multi-instrumentalist, Aubry creates unique musical pieces that appeal to a wide audience. He has collaborated with renowned choreographers, including Carolyn Carlson and Pina Bausch, composing music that enhances their dance performances.

Aubry is perhaps best known for his soundtracks for children’s films, especially those adapted from the beloved books of Julia Donaldson. His scores for films such as “The Gruffalo,” “Room on the Broom,” and “The Highway Rat” have enchanted both children and adults alike.

Over the years, Aubry has released numerous albums, each showcasing his diverse musical talents. His works include “Chrysalide,” “Signes,” and “Forget Me Not.” This blending of classical and contemporary styles has made René Aubry a significant figure in the world of music, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

16 December

December 16th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music December, Le carnaval des animaux, Saint-Saëns, XIII: Le cygne

Camille Saint-Saëns 9 October 1835 – 16 December 1921

Le carnaval des animaux XIII: Le cygne

Camille Saint-Saëns
By Charles Reutlinger (1816–81) – Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Musique, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61676485

Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French composer born on 9 October 1835 in Paris. He was a talented musician known for his incredible skills as an organist, pianist, and conductor during the Romantic era. Saint-Saëns composed many famous works, including “The Carnival of the Animals” and “Danse macabre.” Remarkably, he made his concert debut at just ten years old. Educated at the Paris Conservatoire, he became a church organist, first at Saint-Merri and later at La Madeleine.

Throughout his life, Saint-Saëns embraced new ideas in music but often composed within classical traditions. He taught briefly at the École Niedermeyer, influencing notable students like Gabriel Fauré. His operas, such as “Samson and Delilah,” remain celebrated today. Despite being respected, his music was sometimes seen as conservative. Saint-Saëns continued to compose and perform until his death on 16 December 1921, leaving behind a legacy that serves as a bridge between classical music and future composers. His works are still performed in concert halls around the world.

11 December

December 11th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Berlioz, December, Le carnaval romain ouverture

Hector Berlioz 11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869

Le Carnaval Romain Ouverture

Hector Berlioz
By w:August Prinzhofer (1816–1885) – Hector Berlioz, sa vie et ses oeuvres,, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=141762756

Hector Berlioz was a well-known French composer from the Romantic period. His music was powerful, dramatic, and very different from what people were used to hearing. Some of his most famous pieces include Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, and the opera Les Troyens. Berlioz grew up in a small town where his father wanted him to become a doctor. He moved to Paris to study medicine, but he quickly realised he loved music far more. He began studying at the Paris Conservatoire and worked hard to improve as a composer.

He was inspired by Shakespeare’s plays and fell in love with an actress named Harriet Smithson. She became the inspiration for Symphonie fantastique, one of his most famous works. They later married, though life was not always easy for them. Many people in France did not understand his unusual style, so Berlioz often travelled to other countries to conduct his music. He became very successful in places like Germany, Russia, and Britain. He also wrote music articles and a well-known book about instruments.

Portrait_of_Émile_Waldteufel,_composer_(1837-1915)_-_Archivio_Storico_Ricordi_ICON010736_B

9 December

December 9th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music December, Estudiantina, The Skater's Waltz, Waldteufel

Émile Waldteufel 9 December 1837 – 12 February 1915

The Skater's Waltz Op.183

Estudiantina Op. 191

Émile Waldteufel
By Archivio Storico Ricordi, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=93266055

Charles Émile Waldteufel was a famous French composer, pianist, and conductor born on 9 December 1837 in Strasbourg, France. Coming from a musical Jewish family, his relatives were all dance musicians who used the name Waldteufel, which means “forest devil” in German. Waldteufel received his early music lessons from his father before moving to Paris, where he continued his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris. Although financial difficulties forced him to pause his education, he eventually found success as a composer and conductor.

Waldteufel became well-known for his joyful waltzes, particularly “Les Patineurs,” also known as “The Skater’s Waltz,” composed in 1882. His music captivated audiences and even reached the British royalty, notably playing at events attended by Prince Edward VII. Throughout his career, Waldteufel conducted orchestras at numerous prestigious events across Europe. He remained influential until his retirement in 1899 and passed away on 12 February 1915, leaving behind a vibrant legacy of delightful music still enjoyed today.

8 November

November 8th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Franck, November, Symphony in D minor

César Franck 10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890

Symphony in D minor III. Finale. Allegro non troppo

César Franck
By Pierre Petit – This image is available from the New York Public Library’s Digital Library under the digital ID 1158368: digitalgallery.nypl.org → digitalcollections.nypl.org, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12892674

César Franck was a remarkable French composer, born on 10th December 1822 in Liège, Belgium. From a young age, he displayed extraordinary musical talent, performing his first concerts at just twelve years old. Franck later moved to Paris, where he studied with renowned teachers, including Anton Reicha. His career flourished as he became an organist at the Basilica of Saint-Clotilde, a position he held for over thirty years. Franck was celebrated for his exceptional skill in improvisation and wrote numerous important works, including the famous Violin Sonata and Symphony in D minor.

Throughout his life, Franck was devoted to teaching, inspiring the next generation of musicians. Many of his students, such as Vincent d’Indy and Louis Vierne, went on to make significant contributions to music. Although some of his compositions were not well-received during his lifetime, today, César Franck is recognised as one of the key figures in late Romantic music, being instrumental in the development of organ music and chamber works.

4 November

November 4th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Baïlèro, Canteloube, Chants d'Auvergne, November

Joseph Canteloube 21 October 1879 – 4 November 1957

Chants d'Auvergne Baïlèro

Joseph Canteloube
By unidentified photographer – Musicius.com: http://www.musicius.com/Photos-collecteurs/Canteloube.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4247825

Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret was a notable French composer and musicologist born in 1879 in Annonay, France. He grew up in the beautiful Auvergne region, which inspired much of his work. From a young age, Canteloube showed talent in music, studying piano. After a brief period working at a bank, he returned to his family’s estate, where he continued his musical studies.

In 1907, he moved to Paris to study at the Schola Cantorum, becoming friends with other composers. Canteloube is best known for his collection of folk songs called Chants d’Auvergne, which showcase the spirit of the Auvergne people. Throughout his career, he composed operas, orchestral pieces, and songs that reflected his love for French folklore.

In the later years of his life, Canteloube collaborated on radio broadcasts and wrote about traditional music. He passed away in 1957, leaving behind a rich legacy of music that continues to be celebrated today.

19 October

October 19th

Thomas Pitts Asia, Europe, France, Iran, Music, North America, United States of America October, Pessaram Amin, Zoufonoun

Mahmoud Zoufonoun 1 January 1920 – 19 October 2013

Pessaram Amin For my son, Amin

Mahmoud Zoufonoun
Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=737150

Charles-François Gounod, born on 17 June 1818 in Paris, was a renowned French composer. He is best known for his operas, particularly “Faust,” which premiered in 1859 and became hugely popular, and “Roméo et Juliette,” composed in 1867. Gounod’s work was influenced by his artistic family and his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he won the prestigious Prix de Rome, enabling him to study in Italy and Germany. His religious convictions also shaped his music, leading him to compose many church hymns, including his famous “Ave Maria.”

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, Gounod moved to England for safety. Although he returned to France after the war, he spent significant time in London and worked with various musicians. Despite his earlier successes, Gounod struggled to adapt to changing musical tastes later in life. He continued to compose until his death on 18 October 1893.

18 October

October 18th

Thomas Pitts Europe, France, Music Gounod, October, Symphony No.1 in D-major

Charles Gounod 17 June 1818 – 18 October 1893

Symphony No.1 in D-major

Charles Gounod
By Bayard & Bertall – Bibliothèque nationale de France, département Musique, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62431977