Despite the exotic and foreign-sounding titles of many of his pieces, Marcel Tournier is not known to have ever traveled outside of France.
Composition History
Several pieces on this album, including "La lettre du jardinier," "Rêverie de Bouddha," "Elle est venue, elle a souri," and "Insomnie," feature string quartet parts that were only recently discovered in manuscript form.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Marcel Tournier's compositions, primarily for harp, reflect the influence of Debussy, Satie, and Ravel, and often have descriptive titles that evoke an emotional response rather than telling a story.
Composition History
The string parts for Marcel Tournier's Sonatine, Op. 30, which he added fifteen years after its original composition for solo harp, were only recently discovered, making this the first recording of the work with three instruments.
Composition History
Marcel Tournier often adapted his solo harp or voice and harp pieces into chamber music by adding other instruments years after their initial composition.
Performer Biography
Emmanuel Ceysson, the harpist on this album, has held solo harpist positions at the Paris Opera, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and currently with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel.
Composer Biography
Marcel Tournier, a harpist and composer, taught at the Paris Conservatory for one of the longest tenures in the institution's history, from 1912 to 1948.
You might also enjoy...
Zartir
Palaces of Memory: Electro-acoustic Music
Musik für Waldhörner
Skempton: Surface Tension
Voices
Cook, J.: Empyreum
Chansons d’autrefois & chemins de mélancolie
György Kurtág: Scenes
Varèse: Ecuatorial, Déserts, Intégrales, Hyperprism, Octandre, Offrandes & Density 21.5
