Petite Symphonie (Gounod)

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Cover of the first edition Petite symphonie de Gounod.jpg
Cover of the first edition

Background and premiere

Gounod had composed two symphonies for full orchestra in the 1850s but had since then generally concentrated on opera, songs, and religious music. [1] At the request of a Parisian wind ensemble, the Société de musique de chambre pour instruments à vent  [ fr ], led by the flautist Paul Taffanel, he wrote a nonet for flute and pairs of oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons. The work was first given at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on 30 April 1885. [2] The score was not published until 1904. [1]

Structure

The work, which plays for about twenty minutes, is in four movements: [2]

  1. Adagio–Allegro
  2. Andante cantabile (quasi adagio) attacca
  3. Scherzo. Allegro moderato
  4. Finale. Allegretto

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References

  1. 1 2 Huebner, Steven. "Gounod, Charles-François", Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press, 2001. Retrieved 28 November 2019 (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 Stepphun, Diether (1983). Notes to Orfeo CD C 1051 831 A OCLC   808038163