Alice Sauvrezis


Alice Marie Marguerite Sauvrezis was a French composer, pianist, choral conductor and concert organiser. As an active member of a group of Breton composers in Paris and as president of the Société Artistique et Littéraire de l'Ouest she promoted Celticist music and culture in France.

Life and music

Little is known about Alice Sauvrezis’ life. She was born in the Breton city of Nantes where she worked as a piano teacher. She studied first with César Franck and later with Ernest Guiraud and Paul Vidal. She joined the Paris-based Société Artistique et Littéraire de l'Ouest in 1891 and became its president in 1920. The society organised concerts of "Celtic" music and poetry readings in so-called "Soirées celtiques" at Sorbonne university that included the creative output of Breton, Norman, and Irish composers, writers and artists. During 1913–1914 she was also the only female member of the short-lived Association des Compositeurs Bretons.
Her published music consists mainly of songs as well as piano and chamber music. There is also a limited number of choral and orchestral compositions. As a moral support to wartime France, she edited two collections of French soldier songs, Chants de soldats and Autres chants de soldats .
Some composers dedicated works to her including piano music by Marguerite Balutet and Paul Dedieu-Péters.
Alice Sauvrezis died in Paris aged 80.

Selected compositions

Published works only.

Orchestral music

Fresque marine, published in version for piano 4-hands La Chanson des soirs, for piano and brass band : 1. Soirs agrestes; 2. Soirs somptueux; 3. Soirs lugubres; 4. Dernier soir.

Incidental music

Une Scène de l'enfance de Beethoven, "scène mimée", including choirs and dances Le Chant des pauvres, play by Gérard Detraux in 2 acts, based on Breton legends

Vocal and choral music, except songs

La Ronde enfantine, for children's choir, words: Louis Ratisbonne Nuitamment, for two sopranos, baritone and piano, words: Stephan Bordèse Les Vanneuses, for women’s choir with piano ad lib., words: Auguste Brizeux Epigramme funéraire, for soloist, choir and piano, words: ; also version for two singers and harp Hymne orphique, for soprano, baritone, female choir, two flutes, clarinet, four harps, words: Charles Leconte de Lisle ; also version for voice and pianoExcuse à la marraine, for soloist, choir and piano, "texte d'un poilu"

Songs, for voice and piano

Souvenir, words: Paul Vibert Clair de lune. La Forêt blanche, words: Henri Chantavoine Tristesse. La Forêt noire, words: H. Chantavoine 10 Chants de la comédie enfantine, words: Louis Ratisbonne Toujours, words: Jules Lemaître Chanson de mer, words: Sully Prudhomme La Fileuse, words: Herminie Delavault La Flûte, words: José-Maria de Heredia Sône, words: Anatole Le Braz Chansons écossaises: 1. Jane; 2. Nell, words: Charles Leconte de Lisle Le Sommeil de Canope, words: Albert Samain Sonnets forestiers, words: H. Chantavoine : 1. Le Matin ; 2. La Forêt rouge ; 3. La Forêt blanche ; 4. La Forêt noire .Axilis au ruisseau, words: Albert Romain La Conque, words: J.-M. de Heredia Ton Souvenir, words: A. Samain Fleurs de feu, words: J.-M. de Heredia Le Repos en Egypte, words: A. Samain Le Batelier, words: H. Delavault Chanson violette, words: A. Samain Heures claires, words: Émile Verhaeren : 1. Chaque heure, où je pense à ta bonté; 2. Je dédie à tes pleurs; 3. Que tes yeux clairs; 4. Vivons dans notre amour; 5. S'il arrive jamais.Prélude de la chanson d'Eve, words: Charles van Lerberghe Autre chanson, words: Henri de Régnier Ballade de la Belle au bois dormant, words: Maurice Pézard Chants de soldats : Chansons populaires, chants militaires, hymnes nationaux, sonneries Autres chants de soldats : Chansons populaires, chansons de route, chants historiques et militaires Prière avant la Bataille, words: Henri Dussauze Soldats de France. Chant dédié aux combattants, words: Capitaine Nicolas Noël d'Alsace, words: Émile Hinzelin Le Départ, words: H. de Régnier L'Heure, words: H. de Régnier Deux Illustrations musicales, words: A. Samain : 1. Nyza chante; 2. Hermione et les bergers.Deux Poèmes de Victor-Émile Michelet : 1. Roses mortes; 2. L'Heure de ta beauté.Harmonie du soir, words: Charles Baudelaire Calme des jardins, words: Louis Arnould-Gremilly Neiges sur la montagne, words: L. Arnould-Grémilly, with violin and cello ad lib. Heures d'été, words: A. Samain Veillée, words: Albert Mockel L'Angoisse des steppes, words: Constantin Balmont Rythme perdu, words: L. Arnould-Gremilly Le Repos en Égypte, words: A. Samain Le Vitrail, words: Alice Sauvrezis En vain d'un voile épais, words: V.-É. Michelet

Chamber music

Duo, for two pianos
  • Sonate en Ré mineur, for violin and piano Dialogues, for two pianos Chant sans paroles, for violin and piano Poème, for cello and piano

Piano music

Chant sans paroles Deux Pièces caractéristiques Pièces pour piano La Goutte d'eau En automne Étude héroïque, for the left hand only Cloches de Pâques France! Gestes d'enfants Notations d'été
  • ''À la volée''

Organ music

  • ''Choral pour l'Offertoire''