Piano Forum

Topic: Has anybody heard of Henri Duparc??  (Read 1241 times)

Offline lisztisforkids

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 899
Has anybody heard of Henri Duparc??
on: October 07, 2005, 01:58:06 AM
I guess a real obscure composer. Anybody knows who this dude is and some of his works??
we make God in mans image

Offline mrchops10

  • PS Silver Member
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 177
Re: Has anybody heard of Henri Duparc??
Reply #1 on: October 07, 2005, 02:36:45 AM
He's not that obscure, not among singers, at least. His principle area of success was in melodie, French "lieder," and I have a recording of the late great French singer Gerard Souzay singing a number of these. As a matter of fact, I think these are the only important works he wrote. I would say his style is reminiscent of Chabrier.

BTW, isn't it funny how many lieder and song composers who are common names among singers remain completely unknown by other musicians? For instance, most musically educated pianists have never even heard of Roger Quilter, whose output is a truly wonderful and important addition to English song reportoire, particularly his settings of Shakespeare songs. Hahn, too, remains largely unknown outside the song world. Why is this? It's funny when we are constantly reminded to "sing" at the piano, and Chopin tells us to listen to great singers not great pianists for study, that most instrumentalists know very little about the singing reportoire.
"In the crystal of his harmony he gathered the tears of the Polish people strewn over the fields, and placed them as the diamond of beauty in the diadem of humanity." --The poet Norwid, on Chopin

Offline mikey6

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1406
Re: Has anybody heard of Henri Duparc??
Reply #2 on: October 07, 2005, 08:22:54 AM
yeh, played 2 of his songs - his reputation rests on 8 songs in total I think (around that number anyhow) - they really are something special.
I think most people know Roger Quilter from 'now sleeps the crimson pettle' (if they do know him) - gorgeous art song.
It's intersting that Chopin wrote (or arranged, can't remember) quite a few songs which few pianists would know.
Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them.
Richard Strauss

Offline prometheus

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3819
"As an artist you don't rake in a million marks without performing some sacrifice on the Altar of Art." -Franz Liszt
For more information about this topic, click search below!

Piano Street Magazine:
A Life with Beethoven – Moritz Winkelmann

What does it take to get a true grip on Beethoven? A winner of the Beethoven Competition in Bonn, pianist Moritz Winkelmann has built a formidable reputation for his Beethoven interpretations, shaped by a lifetime of immersion in the works and instruction from the legendary Leon Fleisher. Eric Schoones from the German/Dutch magazine PIANIST had a conversation with him. Read more
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert