MASSENET Jules (1842 - 1912)

Lot 122
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Estimation :
6000 - 8000 EUR
MASSENET Jules (1842 - 1912)
TWO autograph musical manuscripts signed "J. Massenet", Suite Parnassienne (1902-1912); 1 title page and 30 folio pages; and 93 folio pages (1st page a little soiled, last page a little untidy; publisher's ink stamps). The two manuscripts of the Suite Parnassienne, the last work completed by Massenet, dedicated to the Muses, in its two versions: song and piano, and orchestral score. It was in the year of his death, 1912, that Massenet completed this work begun in 1902, a "musical fresco in four parts for orchestra, chorus, and declamation," based on a poem by Maurice Léna (1859-1928), the librettist of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame. The posthumous publication was made by Heugel in 1913, but the first performance took place only on November 26, 2003, at the Temple protestant de l'Oratoire du Louvre, under the direction of Thierry Pélicant. The work lasts about 25 minutes. "The Suite parnassienne is a musical fresco for voice, declamation and orchestra, in four parts, each dedicated to a Muse. The first is a Rêverie, placed under the name of Uranie, muse of astronomy; it is a page full of softness, contemplative with its calm melody, with easy and always harmonious modulations. This prelude symbolizes the "Eternal Harmony" of the world. The second, dedicated to Clio, muse of history, gives Massenet the opportunity to evoke with suavity the "Ancient Visions". The declamation of the verses has a larger part. A rustic allegretto frames an elegiac lento. A soft peroration accompanies the Poet associating to the Past the Future. Massenet has given more importance to the third part, Euterpe, his own muse, to whom he dedicates a piece for two female choirs, preceded by a short prelude where arpeggios flow. The choir is a capella. The phrases alternate or answer each other and complete each other from one choir to the other. The same motif of an elegant line is repeated incessantly and gives unity to the piece. All here is softness; the conclusion is a pianissimo where the two voices gradually fade away. The Epic is dedicated to Calliope; it is the pretext for a march. Chords in pompous triplets alternate at first with the verses of the ode, then accompany the verses on these words : " Sonnez parmi les cieux, sonnez, clairons de l'Épopée ". Then the march develops on a martial rhythm where brass and drums dominate. The choirs come at a moment to reinforce the ringing. A choir of more religious than warlike behaviour, Salve virgo virginum, forms a contrast in unisons cut by energetic repetitions of the strings. One hears a few measures of the Marseillaise, military fanfares; the work, which does not lack breath, ends in a brilliant peroration on the first theme in tutti with chorus. (Louis Schneider). The vocal-piano score, under cover with title, is written in black ink on Lard-Esnault/Bellamy paper at 20 lines, and presents numerous erasures and corrections, as well as scrapes and glue. Dated at the end: "Paris Janvier 1912", it is divided as follows: I. Uranie (astronomy). Reverie (4 p.); II. Clio (the lyric poetry). Ancient visions (6 p.); III. Euterpe (the music). Double-chorus (6 p.; dated at the end: "Paris 8 déc. 1902. gd froid"); IV. Calliope (history). Marche historique (14 p. [including 12bis to avoid number 13]; date pasted at bottom of first page: "Égreville Friday, June 27, 1902. 8 p.m. Admirable weather!... We are making hay. One hears the cars in the meadows... In Paris, Monday Manon S.S., Wednesday Thaïs (Opera), Saturday Manon S.S.". The manuscript of the orchestral score (93 pages [with 12 bis instead of 13, and the last page numbered 92bis]) is in black ink on LardEsnault Bellamy paper at 24 lines, signed and dated at the end: "1902-1912. Massenet"; it is divided as follows: I. Uranie (astronomy). Rêverie (p. 1- 15); II. Clio (the lyric poetry). Ancient visions (p. 16-40); III. Euterpe (the music). Double-chorus (p. 41-47); IV. Calliope (history). Historical march (p. 48-92 bis). BIBLIOGRAPHY Louis Schneider, Massenet (Fasquelle, 1926), p. 287-288. DISCOGRAPHY Chœur lyrique de Paris, Orchestre philharmonique de l'Oise, Thierry Pélicant (Malibran Music 2004).
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