Here is my recording of The Flatterer (La Lisonjera), Op.50 by Cécile Chaminade:

http://www.box.net/shared/y0d3zxgtcb


The sheets are here:

http://www.box.net/shared/1ro9v1p7m0


Chaminade (1857 Paris-1944 Monte Carlo) was a pianist and composer; actually, one of the very few women composers to have made a living at composing.



Her concerts, in which she mainly played her own compositions, were almost always sold out.

She was wildly popular here in the US.

After having been almost forgotten, Chaminade's music is becoming more well known and loved.

She had a way of writing wonderful melodies that stick with you like a good friend.

Many of her over 400 compositions, like The Flatterer, are easy to play, though some are very difficult.

I worked on The Flatterer for 5 days, about 15 minutes a day.

It's much easier than Croatian Rhapsody, which many here play, and is about the level of the easier Chopin Preludes, like Raindrop.

Just don't be afraid of the 6 flats.

I highly recommend this piece, with its jaunty melody and wonderful harmonies.

I think you're going to love it. :3hearts:


Mel

Beautiful Mel. I already have the sheets, but just haven't gotten around to it yet... that and hundreds of other pieces.
Mike White

that was just splendid Mel - loved every second.
This is an interesting style of music, any suggestions what category it might be placed in?
I'll check out the sheets myself, it sounds quite difficult, 90 minutes to learn it! you must be either very good, or the piece is quite a lot easier than it sounds (i'm thinkng the former!)

Say, have you changed your recording setup?

Thanks Mike. That's good news that you already have the sheets.

Stephen, glad you like it so much.

This catagory of music would be "Salon Music" or "Characteristic Pieces".

The Flatterer is definitely much easier than it sounds. It's only 2 pages, with repeats. I've never practiced chromatic scales, the way I practice regular scales, so they're giving me some problems. I'll get to them soon in Hanon.

I did notice that I forgot what time signature I was in and left out a beat in one measure.

Twice.

No, I haven't changed any of my recording settings.

They've changed themselves, adding some reverb.

It's a much warmer sound, so I like it.

But I don't know what's changed. All of the settings are exactly the same as before.

Mel

it's very nice playing! but for some reason i don't care for the music that much...

Nice playing, Mel, and thank you so much for sharing the score. (I almost said "sharing the sheets", but something didn't sound right about it)

Yes, well restrained Lisztener!

Mel, when I checked out the score last night I was very surprised to see only the two pages - in your recording, repeats didn't stand out as much as they often do. I'm going to have a look at it today and see what progress I can make, I've not learnt anything composed by a female yet! BTW, maybe this style of music brings out a new sound of your piano, it sounded great!

Dannylux, you are so good at finding out-of-the-ordinary pieces. I can imagine this one being played in the foyer of an old-fashioned hotel; the sort that has seen better days but still retains some of its former elegance.

Thank you!

Lovely! dannylux.

I remember hearing one of her waltzes on the radio one day and was enraptured by it. I found the sheet music and to my dismay it was not quite so easy!

Sounds great!

Thanks, Signa. I'm one of those who loves Salon music.

Lisztener, thanks very much. For an adult site, there is certainly a lack of adult content here.

Stephen, did you try playing it?

Maryrose, you're welcome. If you don't know Blumenfeld's 24 Preludes, Op.17, I think you'll like my next contribution.

When I look at that picture of Chaminade, I can imagine her as Lydia Languish, with Mrs. Malaprop saying that her music is the very pineapple of perfection.

Bernard, thanks so much for your comments. I'm continuing to work on this piece. With regard to those two horrible chords under the trills near the end, I just lost concentration. I still have to memorize the piece, too.

The only waltz of Chaminade's I've heard is the Air de Ballet, which is delightful, and very difficult.

Mel

Mel,

I'm going to look at it tomorrow - I certainly had planned to today, but I heard Leif Andsnes playing the Grieg lyric piece 'Ariette' on a documentary and decided I must play it, so spent most of my time at the piano on that!. But the sheets for the Chaminade piece are printed and ready to go!

Mel--I really enjoyed this piece and your playing! How did you first hear of her? The only place I learn of new-to-me composers is PianoWorld, so I'm curious how everyone here comes across new music. I would never have pictured this piece as easy-ish if I had heard it on the radio.

Thanks for sharing Cecile!

Nancy

Thanks very much, Nancy.

I first heard Chaminade's music about a week ago, when Typh posted the sheets and a midi for The Flatterer at pianophilia.com. Pianophilia includes among its members musicologists, conservatory professors, concert pianists, and piano lovers. They often post rare music that they have unique access to.

Another good way to find rare music is to prowl the audio clips at amazon.com. That's how I found Levitzki's Valse d'Amour and The Enchanted Nymph.

Also, check out the free music at http://www.classiccat.net/composers.htm

Some of my online friends send me recordings of their concerts. That's where I learned about the Brazilian Sambas that I've posted in the AB Forum.

I do have an obsession with a dedication to unknown and forgotten music.

I heard Hamelin say, in the Supervirtuoso documentary, that if you add up all the piano music that has been performed in the last 50 years, multiply that number by 10 and you get the amount of forgotten music that is worth listening to.

Let me know if you want anything.

Mel

Peter Jacobs' three CD set of Chaminade's works on Hyperion is well worth buying, as is his three CD set on Continuum of the piano works of Frank Bridge, another undeservedly neglected writer of fine piano music.

Bravo, Bravo !!
Reminds me a bit of "Solace" by S. Joplin.
Also, thanks for that sheet music link.

Ted, I have the 3 Chaminade CDs, but only one of Bridge's. Thanks.


Gaffster, thanks very much. I'm glad you liked it.

There are 14 more of Chaminade's public domain scores here:


Chaminade: Scores


All of these pieces were written long before 1923, so they are all in the public domain in the US.


Mel

I'm going to order the sheets for Chaminade's Elévation Op.76 No.2.

The piece is massively romantic and sounds pretty easy to play.

Check out the sound clip at amazon:


Chaminade Piano Music


It's Track 12.

Isn't this gorgeous music?

By the way, this album is identical to Piano Music by Cécile Chaminade, Vol. 1 .


Mel

What a facinating discovery you've made with Chaminades music Mel!

These tracks are filled with the most exquisite melodies - I liked them all so nice I listened twice. I particluarly liked tracks 9 and 13.

I'll look forward to more of your interpretations.

I feel The flatterer will be a longer term project at my level, though after some very slow runs through over the past week, I can see there are some repeated sections that should make learning it easier

It's a lovely piece and you play it beautifully. Thank you for sharing it!

Fitswimmer, thanks very much, and welcome to ABF.

I just found this beautiful recording of Chaminade's Autumn, played by Ruby Morgan of Furman University:

Chaminade Etude de Concert Automne Op.35 No.2

This is another example of Chaminade's gift for melody and harmony, but in a concert piece that is significantly more difficult than The Flatterer.


Mel