The story behind this piece is quite unusual. For example:
...Two years after receiving the commission, an irrationally frustrated Debussy wrote to his wife Lilly, likening her looming expectations to the Commendatore who appears to Don Giovanni in Mozart’s opera. He writes that Hall has “bored him” and calls her an “old bat who dresses like an umbrella.”...Please see more from The Incredible Story of Elise Hall's Saxophone and Debussy's Trainwreck Commission. Excerpt:
In 1898, Elise Hall, an ambitious amateur saxophonist, was frustrated for a simple reason: there wasn’t enough music written specifically for her instrument. So she decided to go on a commissioning spree, asking leading composers of the late-19th century to write music for her and for her instrument.Read the rest HERE. Quite a story!
Hall was born in Paris in 1853, into the eminent Boston Coolidge family. She eventually wound up marrying a doctor, Richard Hall, whose name medical geeks might recognize — he performed the first successful appendectomy on American soil. After Hall began losing her hearing, he suggested she prevent further loss by picking up a novelty instrument: the saxophone.
When Dr. Richard died in 1898 (of all things, from an exploded appendix), Elise’s saxophone skills and dedication to music reached new heights. Hall started taking lessons with Georges Longy, the principal oboist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (and eventual founder of Longy Conservatory); she also founded Boston Orchestral Club. But she became frustrated by the appalling lack of serious saxophone literature, and set out commissioning piece after piece....
What a fascinating story....I can't say this is my favorite work of his, but as an old saxophonist I appreciate the effort. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant surprise! It never occurred to me –– a trained professional musician, myself, –– that the saxophone was capable of anything but crass, irremediable "Pop Style" vulgarity.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to FEDERICO MORIDELCI, –– the saxophonist on this recording ––. and of course to M. Claude Debussy one of very few authentic creative geniuses in the field of musical composition. do wish the cnductor had been identified somewhere. He h a LOT to do with the sucess of this project.
The story of how this came to be IS fascinating, and goes to support one of my pet theories that great things are more apt to grow out of adversity than placidity.
And NOW to read the REST of the story. . . .
I believe the conductor is Seiji Ozawa.
DeleteAs for the saxophone, try a session with Charlie Parker or Lester Young.
If it were Ozawa, the recording then is very old. Ozawa is now 83. I've seen and heard little of him sic h left the BSO.. Federico Moridelci appeared young in the video too. I looked him up, and more current pictures show him to be in his fifties or possible early sixties. Wik doesn't have a page on him, so I couldn't find much daa about him, except abandon evidence that has enjoyed –– and is stll enjoying –– a very active career as a concert saxophonist.
DeleteI'm aware of Parker. Heard him several times. Found him sensitive enough, bu gloomy and rather depressing. I'll have to chck on Lester Young. Thanks for the tip.
Franco,
DeleteWhat a pleasant surprise! It never occurred to me...that the saxophone was capable of anything but crass, irremediable "Pop Style" vulgarity.
One reason that I posted this video.
While the storye remains intriguing it is marred by the usual aura of wry, cynical detachment generally exhibited by "journalists," who seem always to enjoy exploiting human foibles with a flippancy bordering on sarcasm at the expense of higher, more significant truths.
ReplyDeleteAs the French, themselves, would say, "Plus ca change, plus ca la meme chose."
Apparently, it as been ever thus human nature being what it is.
Poor Elise Coolidge Hall (1853-1924), a truly remarkable woman for her time, never got to perform Debussy's Rhapsody, neither did she ever get to HEAR it, even though she'd paid for it in advance a full EIGHTEEN YEARS before it was ever finished –– and not by Debussy, at that!
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), himself, tragically succumbed to cancer at age 56. so he never ot to hear the piece either after he'd farmed it out to through a circuitous route to friend and fellow composer Roger-Ducasse (1873-1954), who created the orchestration from "notes" left by Debussy in the original manuscript.
Franco,
DeleteStill and all, I find the story interesting. Did Debussy so despise the sax that he wouldn't fulfill his commission?
Angus Cadwallader said
ReplyDeleteNice piece.