Chanson de Matin
Encyclopedia
Chanson de Matin, Op. 15, No. 2, is a musical work composed by Edward Elgar
for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1899, though it is thought that it was almost certainly written in 1889 or 1890.
It has invited comparison with its "companion" piece, Chanson de Nuit
, Op. 15, No. 1, and though critically it has been described as less profound, its fresh melodic appeal has made it more popular.
The orchestral version of the work was published two years later, and first performed, together with Chanson de Nuit, at a Queen's Hall
Promenade Concert conducted by Henry Wood on 14 September 1901.
Elgar briefly quotes
the melody in the second movement of his String Quartet in E minor
of 1918.
, one oboe
, two clarinets, one bassoon
, two horns
, the string section
, and a harp
.
The most important are his arrangements for cello
and piano, and for viola
and piano; and by his friend A. Herbert Brewer
for organ
.
There are arrangements for other instruments, including oboe and piano, recorder ensemble (Dom Gregory Murray), brass quintet (Roger Harvey), and for brass band and wind band.
There is an adaptation for voice and piano published in 1960, "Haste ye feathered songsters", to words by Laurence Swinyard.
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1899, though it is thought that it was almost certainly written in 1889 or 1890.
It has invited comparison with its "companion" piece, Chanson de Nuit
Chanson de Nuit
Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1, is a musical work composed by Edward Elgar for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1897, though it is considered that it was almost certainly written in 1889 or 1890....
, Op. 15, No. 1, and though critically it has been described as less profound, its fresh melodic appeal has made it more popular.
The orchestral version of the work was published two years later, and first performed, together with Chanson de Nuit, at a Queen's Hall
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect T.E. Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it was the home of the promenade concerts founded by Robert...
Promenade Concert conducted by Henry Wood on 14 September 1901.
Elgar briefly quotes
Musical quotation
Musical quotation is the practice of directly quoting another work in a new composition. The quotation may be from the same composer's work , or from a different composer's work ....
the melody in the second movement of his String Quartet in E minor
String Quartet (Elgar)
The String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83, was one of three major chamber music works composed by Sir Edward Elgar in 1918. The others were the Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82, and the Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84. Along with the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op...
of 1918.
Instrumentation
Elgar scored Chanson de Matin (and Chanson de Nuit) for a small orchestra consisting of one fluteFlute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, one oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, two clarinets, one bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
, two horns
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
, the string section
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
, and a harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
.
Arrangements
The work is most well-known in its original setting and the composer's orchestral version.The most important are his arrangements for cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and piano, and for viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
and piano; and by his friend A. Herbert Brewer
Herbert Brewer
Sir Arthur Herbert Brewer was an English composer and organist. As organist of Gloucester Cathedral from 1896 until his death, he contributed a good deal to the Three Choirs Festival for 30 years....
for organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
.
There are arrangements for other instruments, including oboe and piano, recorder ensemble (Dom Gregory Murray), brass quintet (Roger Harvey), and for brass band and wind band.
There is an adaptation for voice and piano published in 1960, "Haste ye feathered songsters", to words by Laurence Swinyard.
Performances on video
A selection- Gerald Elias and Marjorie Janove - Violin and Piano
- Natalie ... - Violin and Piano (part)
- Original orchestration: performing group not identified - Orchestra
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIEnNS1ca-U Julian Lloyd WebberJulian Lloyd WebberJulian Lloyd Webber is a British solo cellist who has been described as the "doyen of British cellists".-Early life:Julian Lloyd Webber is the second son of the composer William Lloyd Webber and his wife Jean Johnstone . He is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
Cello - Cuarteto Assai- String Quartet
- Robert Finlay - Piano
- Denis Bouriakov and John Reid - Flute and Piano