French Composer Cecile Chaminade

Pianist Wrote Many Popular Works Including 'Scarf Dance'

Apr 20, 2008

A brief look at the life and career of Cecile Chaminade, French pianist and composer whose "Scarf Dance" sold thousands of copies and was widely played.

Born at Paris in 1861 to a musical family, Cecile- Louise-Stephanie Chaminade soon gravitated toward the piano and at the age of eight was already composing, primarily sacred works. Georges Bizet heard these compositions and urged her parents to accord her a complete musical training, and on this basis predicted a brilliant future for her. The first public performance of her work took place at the church in Vesinet, and while her parents were willing to let Cecile pursue music they also insisted on a strict discipline of academics.

Chaminade studied piano with LeCouppey; harmony, counterpoint and fugue with Savard; Marsick in violin and composition with Benjamin Godard. During her studies she was a member of a chamber group with Francois Alexandre Nicolas Cheri Delsarte, who created the 'Delsarte Method' of singing, and Marsick. Chaminade made her public debut as a pianist at the age of 18, when she played some of her own compositions. The noted composer Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896), said of her, "This is not a woman who composes, but a composer who happens to be a woman."

Pianist

As a pianist Chaminade was very successful and played in Berlin, Leipsig and London as well as her native city of Paris. She was often asked to perform her own Piano Concerto and did so with the London Philharmonic and Gewandhaus Concerts, Colonne and Lamoureaux in Paris. The Piano Concerto received rave reviews from the critics, who spoke of its 'refined melodic charm and graceful delicacy of sentiment.' The concerto was always warmly received by audiences and critics.

Compositions

Her other works are instrumental, and encompass salon piano works, concert pieces for piano, pieces for four and eight-hands (two pianos) and many duets for one piano. The more important works include the famous "Scarf Dance," "Etudes de Concert," "Valse Caprice" and some compositions for violin and piano. Her Concertino for Flute and Piano is a staple of the flautist's repertoire.

Songs

Chaminade's songs are very well known and have contributed greatly to her success as a composer.Full of charm and beauty, they are also blessed with accompaniments of richness and colour. Some of her songs that are often performed are "Noel des Marins," "Angelus," and six "Poemes Evangeliques." She was one composer who was able to make a living from her music and published over 400 compositions. Chaminade died at Monte Carlo in 1944 at the age of 83.

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