Henri Duparc: Aux étoiles (composer's own piano reduction)

Описание: Duparc (1848-1933) needs little introduction, as his core output of 13 approved songs is one of the cornerstones of the 19th century song repertoire. However, although he destroyed much of his other music, this piece - which started life as part of a 3-movement 'Poeme Nocturne' from 1874, was revised later, and issued in 1911 in this piano reduction by the composer himself - although Duparc had retired from composition many years before. As such it deserves to be as popular with pianists as the songs are with singers, as it is a most beautiful and faithful arrangement of the orchestral original. In its 1911 incarnation, it is described as an 'entr'acte pour un drame inedit'. It is prefaced by the following evocative words by the French priest, theologian and Academician, Auguste-Joseph-Alphonse Gratry (1805-72):
"La lumiere siderale des nuits!
Qui peut savoir les vertus secretes
de cette lumiere si humble
venant de l'immensite?...."
(The night-time starlight! - who can know the secret powers of this humble light, from the immensity [of the heavens]....)
The words are the more poignant when one reflects that Duparc became blind within a few years of the publication of this arrangement.
NB my apologies for the missing passing note (C) in the left hand at 2:01 occasioned by the page turn - you will not notice it unless you know the score very well!

Thumbnail image created with Wombo Dream ( t.ly/zhJa ).

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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk (Email: [email protected]
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