Biography of André Caplet (1878-1925)

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23.11.1878

Born in Le Havre ( France)

1887

Winner of a first price for playing violin

1890

Violinist of the Grand Theatre orchestra in Le Havre

1895

First studies at Paris conservatory (harmonics, piano accompagniment and composition). Timpanist and then conductor of Concerts Colonne and at the Theatre de la Porte St. Martin

1899

Musical director of Theatre de la Porte St. Martin

1901

Winner of Prix de Rome

Acquaintance becoming friendship with Debussy's and further studies with him.

1910

Until 1914 head of the orchestra of Boston Opera Company

Following a gas intoxication in World War I he had to give up conducting

22.04.1925

Dies in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris

30.03.1900

Premiere of the Quintet for woodwinds and piano

Further information/Sources:

Sheet music for flute:

Ecoute, mon coeur... (G-Dur)

(voice range e'-e'', flute)

Durand S. A. Edition s Musicales, D. & F. 10 728

Rating: mid-grade

Voice and flute without any harmonies - a challenge.

Improvisations... - d'après "Le Pain quotidien"

(flute/alto flute, piano)

Durand S. A. Edition s Musicales, D.&F. 10851

Rating: mid-grade

Nostalgique
Décidé
Balancé
Gracieux
Lointain
Vif

Quintet

(flute (violin), oboe (violin), clarinet (viola), bassoon (cello), piano)

Rosewood Publications, RP 7

Rating: mid-grade

Allegro con brio
Adagio
Scherzo
Finale

Score in spiral binding and parts for all of the possible instrumentations

Early composition of 1899. The premiere was played for the "Societé Moderne d´Instruments à Vent" on the 10th of April 1899. The first publication was only in 1998

Rêverie et PetiteValse (e-moll)

(flute, piano)

Edition Kunzelmann, GM 607

Rating: mid-grade

Reverie - Andantino
Petite Valse - Vivo

This composer was a student of Debussy and you can hear this. If you don´t know him yet, get to know him. Dedicated to Georges Barrere.

Suite Persane (D-dur)

(2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns)

Verlag Gebr. Schottstädt, GS 10901

Rating: mid-grade

Scharki (Allegretto quais Andante)
Mhavvend (Lento)
Iskia Samaisi

Composed in 1900, premiere one year later. The two similar instruments are very often going in parallel. I don´ like that so much.

Viens! Une Flute Invisible Soupire

(voice, flute, piano)

Durand S. A. Edition s Musicales, D & F 10662

Rating: mid-grade

Modere

CDs with/from André Caplet

Calamus Ensemble, Benoît Fromanger, Luc Loubry, Rachel Talitman

André Caplet (1995)

Dabringhaus und Grimm

Quintette (1898):

I. Allegro brillamente (08:40:00)
II. Adagio (07:23:00)
III. Scherzo (03:54:00)
IV. Final - Allegro con fuoco (08:11:00)

Deux Pieces (1897):

I. Rêverie. Andantino (03:56:00)
II. Petite valse. Vivo (02:24:00)

Improvisations (1920):

I. Nostalgique. Lent (03:58:00)
II. Décidé. Bien allègre (00:49:00)
III. Balancé. Simple (01:41:00)
IV. Gracieux. Sans lenteur (01:10:00)
V. Lointain. Tempo di Polacca (01:44:00)
VI. Vif (02:15:00)

Suite Persane (1900):

I. Sharki. Allegretto quasi andante (03:31:00)
II. Mhavvend. Andantino (04:34:00)
III. Iskia samaisi. Vivo (07:21:00)

Suite Persane ist ein Dezett, dabei sind die Stimmen meist unisono oder in Terzen gesetzt. Wie der Titel sagt, klingt das etwas arabisch. Der Rest zeigt den Einfluss des Lehrers Debussy. Sehr schön für jeden, der wie ich auf Spätromantik und folgendes steht. Leider nicht mehr ohne weiteres erhältlich.

Eric Le Sage, Les Vents Français

Winds & Piano (3 CD) (2014)