French Masterworks for Cello and Piano I

the FRENCH MASTERWORKS FOR CELLO AND PIANO I in special celebration of the 350th birthday of Francois Couperin and the composers in his circle. Proclaimed as the "Couperin le Grand," Francois Couperin (1668-1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist, and harpsichordist, famous for his four volumes of Pieces de clavecin (1713-1730) as well as his important treatise, L'art de toucher le clavecin ("The Art of Harpsichord Playing") (1716). His Pieces en concert (ca. 1724), arranged for cello and piano, take us on a musical journey through the wistful opening Prelude, a lilting Sicilienne, a festive La Tromba, a doleful Plainte, and a spirited Air de Diable. The pioneer of French Impressionism, Claude Debussy composed his one-and-only Cello Sonata in D minor (1915) just a few years before his death. It is full of modernist features, including surpring rhythmic interjections, sudden changes of tempo, slippery harmonic language, and experimental extended techniques for the cello, such as harsh pizzicato and glassy ponticello passages in tremolo. Composed during the First World War, Gabriel Faure's impassioned Cello Sonata No. 1 in D minor, op. 109 (1917) reveals his innate gift for melodic lyricism and subtle changes of tonality in its three contrasting movements: an agitated Allegro, a poetic Andante, and a sparkling Finale. Chausson's tranquil Piece in C Major for cello and piano, op. 39 (1897), written a few years before his death, presents the cello and piano in an intimate duet as the two share each other's expansive melodic lines. Written after the death of his beloved relative, Saint-Saens' dark and dramatic Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, op. 32 (1872) presents the cello's main melodic material over a virtuoso piano part, concluding with a turbulent Allegro moderato finale that delivers the work to its powerful C minor ending. Don't miss these impassioned French Masterworks for Cello and Piano I in tribute to Francois Couperin and the composers in his circle! 
Ben and I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, March 11th!
Best wishes,
 

Dr. Yelena Grinberg, founder and artistic director of the Grinberg Classical Salon Series

WHEN: Sunday, March 11th, 2018, 5:00 p.m.
          Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.           Food-and-wine reception to follow the salon
WHERE: Private Residence on the Upper West Side (West 90s)
          You will be emailed the exact home address after you register through this website
ADMISSION: $30
          Admission price includes the wine-and-hors d'oeuvres reception with the guest Artist(s)          Attendance is limited to just 21 seats!          Advance ticket purchase through Eventbrite is required. NO tickets sold at the door!
CONTACT: Dr. Yelena Grinberg - ygpiano@gmail.com 
PROGRAM: 
FRENCH MASTERWORKS FOR CELLO AND PIANO I
COUPERIN - Pieces en concert, arr. for cello and piano (1724)DEBUSSY - Sonata for cello and piano (1915)FAURE - Sonata No. 1 in D minor for cello and piano, op. 109 (1917)***CHAUSSON - Piece in C Major, op. 39 (1897)SAINT-SAENS - Sonata in C minor for cello and piano, op. 32 (1872)
 
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Tonight's Part I of the FRENCH MASTERWORKS FOR CELLO AND PIANO I is in special celebration of the 350th birthday of Francois Couperin and the composers in his circle. Proclaimed as the "Couperin le Grand," Francois Couperin (1668-1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist, and harpsichordist who was born into one of the best known musical families of Europe and was famous for his four volumes of picturesque Pieces de clavecin (1713-1730) as well as his famous treatise, L'art de toucher le clavecin ("The Art of Harpsichord Playing") (1716). His Pieces en concert (ca. 1724), arranged for cello and piano, take us on a musical journey through five characterful pieces: a wistful opening Prelude, a lilting Sicilienne, a festive La Tromba, a doleful Plainte, and a spirited Air de Diable. The pioneer of French Impressionism, Claude Debussy (1862-1918) composed his one-and-only Cello Sonata in D minor (1915) just a few years before his death, in a quest to reembrace the musical heritage of French music and the textural clarity of the music of the French Baroque composers, including Couperin and Rameau. Ironically, while looking back on the music of the past, his Cello Sonata is one of his most avant-garde and daringly experimental works, full of surpring rhythmic interjections, sudden changes of tempo, slippery harmonic language that often flirts with atonality, and special effects in the cello writing, such as harsh pizzicato and glassy ponticello passages in tremolo. Claude Debussy famously proclaimed Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) as the "master of charms" which are revealed in Faure's dramatic and compact Cello Sonata No. 1 in D minor, op. 109 (1917). Composed during the First World War, during Faure's final phase of composition, it reveals Faure's innate gift for melodic lyricism and subtle changes of tonality in its three contrasting movements: an agitated Allegro, a poetic Andante, and a sparkling Finale. Enrst Chausson (1855-1899) was a French Romantic composer who died prematurely just as his career was beginning to flourish. After initially completing his studies in law, he came to music late, studying with Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire. While initially fascinated by Wagner, Chausson later became a fervent member of the more conservative Franck circle and sought to free French music from Wagnerian influence by turning to the works of the French Baroque composers (Couperin and Rameau), much like Claude Debussy, who was an avid admirer of Chausson's music. His serene Piece in C Major for cello and piano, op. 39 (1897), composed a few years before his death, stems from his third and final period of composition during which he was especially influenced by his reading of the Symbolist poets and Russian literature. It presents the cello and piano in an intimate duet as the two share each other's expansive melodic lines. A musical prodigy, Camile Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French Romantic composer, organist, conductor, virtuoso pianist, and teacher of Gabriel Faure, best known for such beloved masterworks as the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886). Among his 40+ chamber works is his dark and dramatic Cello Sonata No. 1 in C minor, op. 32 (1872), written after the death of a beloved relative, in which the main melodic material is stated by the cello over a virtuoso piano part, which gains momentum in the turbulent Allegro moderato finale that delivers the work to its riveting ending. Don't miss these impassioned French Masterworks for Cello and Piano I in tribute to Francois Couperin and the composers in his circle! 
- Program Notes by Dr. Yelena Grinberg
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For more information on the Grinberg Classical Salon Series, please visit: http://yelenagrinberg.com/grinberg-classical-salon-series/