Serenade in E-flat major (Saint-Saëns)
Camille Saint-Saëns' Serenade in E flat major, Op. 15 (French: Sérénade en mi bémol majeur) is a chamber composition for a quartet consisting of piano, organ, violin, viola (or cello) composed in 1865. It is one of the earliest works by the composer making use of an organ (or harmonium) in a chamber ensemble, preceded only by the Six Duos for harmonium and piano, Op. 8.[1] In addition to the original scoring the work has been transcribed for orchestra, piano solo, piano four-hands and for piano quartet, with a cello taking the part of the organ.[2][3]
Background
Composition of the Serenade began in 1865 and was completed by May of that year with publication, dedicated to Princess Mathilde Bonaparte Demidoff who in 1860 had exempted Saint-Saëns from military service, following shortly afterwards.[2][4] The first performance did not however take place until the following year when it was performed at a soirée held by the Prince of Hohenzollern on the 7th of January 1866. On that occasion the organ was played by the composer, while Julian Sauzay played the piano.[4] The Serenade was performed twice more in 1866, the third performance being attended by Hector Berlioz, Charles Gounod and Franz Liszt.[2]
Structure
The composition is structured as a single movement marked Allegretto tranquillo, quasi andantino.[2] Performance time is around 6 to 7 minutes.
References
- Notes
- ↑ (Smith 1992, p. 62)
- 1 2 3 4 (Smith 1992, p. 309)
- ↑ (Payne 1964, p. 446)
- 1 2 (Smith 1992, p. 81)
- Sources
- Payne, Donald Ian (1964). The major chamber works of Camille Saint-Saëns (D.M.A.). University of Rochester. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- Smith, Rollin (1992). Saint-Saëns and the Organ. Pendragon Press. ISBN 978-0-945193-14-2.
External links
- Serenade in E flat major, Op.15: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- "Saint Saens - Serenade in E flat major, Op. 15 for Piano, Organ, Violin & Viola/Cello". YouTube. 20 September 2014.