Cypres et Lauriers
Encyclopedia
Cyprès et Lauriers, Op.
156, for Organ and Orchestra was written by Camille Saint-Saëns
in 1919, two years before the composer's death.
Lasting not quite twenty minutes, the piece is program music
divided into two parts, each corresponding to a section of the title. The first part, which corresponds to 'cyprès' (literally 'cypress') is a long, mournful adagio for organ solo in the manner of a dirge, reminiscent of the weeping that a cypress is often seen to embody. Once the orchestra makes its entrance, a much more uplifting and sprightly interplay between the organ and orchestra takes place, written in the likes of a militaristic march (hence the 'lauriers', or laurels) and making liberal use of the brass and unusually large percussion band (the latter of which goes so far as to employ a snare drum).
One of Saint-Saëns' more (though by no means only) unusual compositions, this piece has not secured the same status in the classical canon as his more famous Third Symphony
, written for similar ensemble thirty-one years earlier. This might be attributed to the fact that Cyprès et Lauriers is of a much shorter duration and markedly less profound and sweeping nature than its predecessor. The instrumentation itself bears note: whereas the Third Symphony was written with the organ incorporated as a member of the orchestral ensemble, something that would bear repetition (most famously in Richard Strauss
's Also sprach Zarathustra), Cyprès et Lauriers is structured in traditional concerto
form with the organ as soloist.
released a performance by organist Matthias Eisenberg with Michel Plasson
conducting the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. In 2007, Chandos issued a recording with organist Ian Tracey
and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rumon Gamba
.
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
156, for Organ and Orchestra was written by Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
in 1919, two years before the composer's death.
Lasting not quite twenty minutes, the piece is program music
Program music
Program music or programme music is a type of art music that attempts to musically render an extra-musical narrative. The narrative itself might be offered to the audience in the form of program notes, inviting imaginative correlations with the music...
divided into two parts, each corresponding to a section of the title. The first part, which corresponds to 'cyprès' (literally 'cypress') is a long, mournful adagio for organ solo in the manner of a dirge, reminiscent of the weeping that a cypress is often seen to embody. Once the orchestra makes its entrance, a much more uplifting and sprightly interplay between the organ and orchestra takes place, written in the likes of a militaristic march (hence the 'lauriers', or laurels) and making liberal use of the brass and unusually large percussion band (the latter of which goes so far as to employ a snare drum).
One of Saint-Saëns' more (though by no means only) unusual compositions, this piece has not secured the same status in the classical canon as his more famous Third Symphony
Symphony No. 3 (Saint-Saëns)
The Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, was completed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1886 at what was probably the artistic zenith of his career. It is also popularly known as the "Organ Symphony", even though it is not a true symphony for organ, but simply an orchestral symphony where two sections out...
, written for similar ensemble thirty-one years earlier. This might be attributed to the fact that Cyprès et Lauriers is of a much shorter duration and markedly less profound and sweeping nature than its predecessor. The instrumentation itself bears note: whereas the Third Symphony was written with the organ incorporated as a member of the orchestral ensemble, something that would bear repetition (most famously in Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
's Also sprach Zarathustra), Cyprès et Lauriers is structured in traditional concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
form with the organ as soloist.
Recordings
Among the recordings of the music, in 1997, EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
released a performance by organist Matthias Eisenberg with Michel Plasson
Michel Plasson
Michel Plasson is a French conductor.Plasson was a student of Lazare Lévy at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1962, he was a prize-winner at the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors. He studied briefly in the United States, including time with Charles Münch...
conducting the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse. In 2007, Chandos issued a recording with organist Ian Tracey
Ian Tracey (organist)
-Previous work:Ian Tracey started to study the organ at Liverpool Cathedral under the cathedral organist at the time, Noel Rawsthorne. He then continued his studies at Trinity College, London before gaining further experience in Paris under André Isoir and Jean Langlais. In 1980 he took over from...
and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rumon Gamba
Rumon Gamba
Rumon Gamba , is an English conductor. He studied music at Durham University, and then went to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied conducting with Colin Metters, George Hurst and Sir Colin Davis. He became the first conducting student to obtain the DipRAM...
.