《Sérénade aux Étoiles, Op.142》

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944)

Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) was born in Paris. Due to the social trends during which Chaminade lived, most of her music consisted of simple, elegant saloon pieces that did not require exceptional technical demand. In 1913, Charminade became the first female recipient to be awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government. Displaying the natural, subtle characteristics of French saloon music, Sérénade aux Étoiles was originally written for flute and piano accompaniment. The notes float smoothly over the 12/8 time signature, conveying a carefree, relaxed feeling. The melody played by the flute flows intricately between the low and high registers, at times tranquil and velvety, at times jovial and detached, forming an intimate dialogue with the piano. The violin used in this recording was made by French luthier Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1798-1875) in 1850. The violin plays the original flute part of the piece. The wide range of the violin and its lustrous timbre make this version in no way less remarkable than the original arrangement.