Chaîne brisée (1936-37): Florent Schmitt’s posthumous tribute to his friend and fellow-composer Paul Dukas.

June 2, 2021 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, French Composers, Piano Music | tagged Alain Raes, Annie d'Arco, Anthony Girard, Arthur Hoeree, Barcarolle des sept vierges, Branle de sortie, Chaine brisee, Charles Munch, Clemens Gadenstaetter, Clement Canonne, Elsa Barraine, Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Pierne, Guy Ropartz, Henriette Puig-Roget, Henry Prunieres, IRCAM, Jawher Matmati, Jean Morel, Joaquin Rodrigo, Julian Klein, La Revue Musicale, Manuel de Falla, Messiaen, Micheline Moris-Thirion, Paul Dukas, Pauline Gordon, Pieter-Jelle de Boer, Ray Luck, Revue Musicale, Richard Whitehouse, Societe nationale de musique, Stele pour le Tombeau de Paul Dukas, Tony Aubin | 2 Comments

Living and working as he did throughout the entirety of France’s “Golden Age” of classical music, Florent Schmitt was well-acquainted with all of the significant composers of the day in Paris. Among the most famous of them — Achille-Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Albert Roussel and Paul Dukas — the latter three were particularly close friends […]

Organist and music researcher Guillaume Le Dréau talks about French composer Florent Schmitt’s consequential work as a Parisian music critic (1912-1939).

January 20, 2017 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Organ Music | tagged Alain Louvier, Charles Munch, Courrier Musical, David Eccott, Florent Schmitt, France Musicale, French Composers, French Music, Guillaume le Dreau, La Revue de France, La Revue Musicale, Le Temps, Marche Nuptiale, Music Criticism, Nicolas Slonimsky, Norman Demuth, Paris Conservatoire, Remy Campos, Rennes Cathedral, Revue Musicale, Schmitt, Virgil Thomson | 1 Comment

Guillaume Le Dréau is one of the most multi-faceted musicians I know. A keyboard artist, he is currently the organist at Rennes Cathedral in France — but this position represents only one aspect of his many musical activities. Not only does he play the organ and piano, he is a composer, an arranger, a teacher and a researcher. […]

In Memoriam: Florent Schmitt’s tribute to his teacher and mentor Gabriel Fauré (1922/35).

March 6, 2016 · by Phillip Nones | in Classical Music, Composers, French Composers, Piano Music | tagged Alexandre Millerand, Andrey Kasparov, Aubert, Buffalo Philharmonic, Charles Koechlin, Enesco, Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Faure, Georges Pretre, In Memoriam, Jean Martinon, JoAnn Falletta, John McLaughlin Williams, Jules Massenet, Lionel Salter, Manuel Rosenthal, Margaret Fingerhut, Michel Fleury, Oksana Lutsyshyn, Paul Ladmirault, Paul Paray, Paul Turok, Penelope, Ravel, Ray Luck, Rene Dumesnil, Revue Musicale, Roger-Ducasse, Schmitt, Sir Neville Marriner, Tony Aubin, Vladimir Valjarevic | 1 Comment

During his time as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, Florent Schmitt had his share of esteemed teachers including Jules Massenet, Théodore Dubois, André Gédalge and Albert Lavignac. But Gabriel Fauré, who along with Massenet were Schmitt’s two instructors in composition, was his favorite teacher — and also arguably the most influential one. Time and again, […]