In the Age of Debussy

Debussy, Claude;
Dukas, Paul;
Caplet, André;
Faure, Gabriel

Wilson, Ransom;
Dumont, François

NI 6407

DEBUSSY: "Bilitis". After setting three of his friend Pierre Louÿs's1894 prose poems Les Chansons de Bilitis, Debussy was asked by him to provide incidental music for a mimed recitation with 'tableaux vivants' of another twelve poems. The composer chose an individual ensemble of two flutes, two harps and celesta which would allow the recited poems to be heard clearly. A single performance was given on 7 February 1901.

The meeting between Debussy and the 29-year-old André CAPLET in October 1907 was an instant success, and Caplet's involvement with the maître went on to include, among other tasks, orchestrating Children's Corner as well as parts of Le Martyrede Saint Sébastien. Debussy also valued him as a meticulous proof-reader, dubbing him variously 'l'angedes corrections' (the angel of corrections) and 'le tombeaudes fautes' (the graveyard of errors). Caplet had entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1896, winning the Prix de Rome in 1901 when he beat Ravel into third place. His Two Little Pieces of 1897 show his innate musicianship in their Fauréanharmonic sleights of hand and overall charm.

CD

Muzyka klasyczna

Nimbus

15-01-2021

0710357640728