Pierre de Bréville
Pierre Eugène Onfroy de Bréville was a French composer.
Biography
Pierre de Bréville was born in Bar-le-Duc, Meuse. Following the wishes of his parents, he studied law with the goal of becoming a diplomat. However, he abandoned his plans after a few years and entered the Conservatoire de Paris. He began his musical studies with Théodore Dubois, later taking courses under the direction of César Franck.He became a professor, teaching counterpoint at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. Following a twelve-year break, he taught classes in chamber music composition at the Conservatoire de Paris.
He established himself as a music critic and wrote reviews and commentary in Mercure de France, Le Courrier musical and La Revue blanche. He died in Paris.
Although de Bréville was not prolific, he lavished attention to his own compositions. He also completed the orchestration of César Franck's unfinished opera Ghiselle with Vincent d'Indy and Ernest Chausson.
Selected compositions
;StageL'anneau de Çakuntala, Incidental Music for the play Abhijñānaśākuntalam by KālidāsaLe Pays des fées, Incidental MusicLa Princesse Maleine, OperaLes Sept Princesses, Incidental MusicÉros vainqueur, Lyric Opera in 3 acts, 4 scenes ; libretto by Jean Lorrain; first performance 7 March 1910, Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels Les Egyptiens, Ballet, an overture to a piece by Maurice Maeterlinck;Orchestral worksLa Nuit de décembreStamboul, Symphony
;ConcertanteTête de Kenwark, Scène lyrique for cello and orchestra after a dramatic poem by Leconte de Lisle
;Chamber music
- Sonata No.1 in C minor for violin and piano Une flûte dans les vergers for flute and piano Pièce for oboe and piano Poème dramatique for cello and piano Prière for cello and organ
- Sonatina for oboe and piano
- Sonata No.2 "Sonate fantaisie en forme de rondeau" for violin and piano
- Sonata in D minor for cello and piano Fantaisie appassionata for cello and piano
- Sonata for violin and piano
- Sonata for violin and piano
- Sonata for viola and piano Concert à trois for violin, cello, and piano
- Sonata for violin and piano Fantaisie for guitarTrio à cordesTrio d'anches
;PianoFantaisie: Introduction, fugue et finale Portraits de maîtres Impromptu et choral Stamboul: rhythmes et chansons d'Orient, 4 Pieces Prélude et fugue Sonate en ré bémol Sept esquisses Quatre sonates Fantasia appassionata
;VocalLa forêt charmée for voice and piano ; words by Jean MoréasEpitaphe for voice and piano ; words taken from the tombstone of Marie Dupuis in the "Église de Senan"Le Furet du bois joli for voice and piano ; words by Jean BénédictPoèmes de Jean Lorrain mis en musique Quatre mélodies pour voix moyennes with piano accompaniment Héros, je vous salue for voice and piano ; words by Henri de RégnierFrance for voice and piano ; words by Henri de RégnierSainte for voice and piano ; words by Stéphane MallarméBonjour mon cœur for voice and piano ; words by Pierre de RonsardLa Terre les eaux va buvant for voice and piano ; words by Pierre de RonsardÔ mon ange gardien for voice and piano ; words by Francis JammesBaiser for voice and piano ; words by Émile CottinetCantique de 1ère communion for soprano, violin and organ ; words by Henry Gauthier-VillarsLa Cloche fêlée for voice and piano ; words by Charles Baudelaire12 Rondels de Charles d'Orléans for voice and piano ; words by Charles d'OrléansBernadetteLa Petite IlseCœur ardentL'Heure mystique
;ChoralHymne à Venus, Vocal duo or chorus in 2 parts in phrygian mode ; words by Auguste Villiers de l'Isle-AdamMesse for soprano, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus, string quartet, harp and organ Sainte Rose de Lima, Scène mystique for soprano, female chorus and orchestra ; words by Félix NaquetTantum ergo sacramentum veneremur cernui, Hymne au Saint Sacrement for mezzo-soprano, female chorus and organ Les Cèdres du Liban for mixed chorus a cappellaMotets pour la messe des mortsSalut for soloists, female chorus and organ or harmonium
Writings
Les Fioretti du père Franck,, a biography of César Franck- ''Une histoire du théâtre lyrique en France''