Pierne: Canzonetta, Op. 19 for Clarinet and Piano

Code: JP2104
ISMN: 979-0-3019-0152-6

Gabriel Pierne was born in Metz in 1863. His family moved to Paris to escape the Franco-Prussian War. This gave him the opportunity to study at the Paris Conservatoire, gaining first prizes for solfège, piano, organ, counterpoint and fugue. He won the French Prix de Rome in 1882, for his cantata Edith. His teachers included Cesar Franck (organ) and Jules Massenet (composition).

He succeeded Cesar Franck as organist at Saint Clotilde Basilica in Paris from 1890 to 1898. He was associated for many years with Edouard Colonne's concert series, the Concerts Colonne, and became chief conductor of this series in 1910. The world premiere of Igor Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird, at the Ballets Russes in Paris on June 25, 1910 was conducted by Gabriel Pierne. He remained in this position until 1933 when Paul Paray took over his duties. Pierne died in 1937.

Canzonetta, Op. 19, was composed in 1888 when Pierne was only 25. The music was dedicated to his friend Charles Turban, who, a few years later, followed Cyrille Rose as Professor of Clarinet at the Paris Conservatoire (1900-1904).