Koechlin: Works for Piano

Featuring

Mireille Guillaume
Charles Koechlin

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Koechlin's music, particularly in the Sonatines, balances childish naivety with a certain irony, a spirit not far from Erik Satie.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Koechlin often 'sketched' his compositions in piano form, illustrating the instrument's role as a confidant for the composer.

Composition History

The Chants de Kervéléan, Op. 197, were composed at the Kervéléan manor, a refuge for Koechlin during the war, and are dedicated to the mother of his friend Jules Gricysses, a political prisoner.

Composer Biography

Charles Koechlin's vast musical output, spanning over 50 years, touched nearly all genres except opera.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Koechlin considered his Sonatines as significant works that marked his development as a composer, reflecting an evolution in his musical language.

Performer Biography

Mireille Guillaume, the pianist on this recording, is a specialist in Charles Koechlin's music and has previously recorded his Sonata for violin and piano.

Compositional Technique

Koechlin's piano cycles often feature short forms, with two dominant types of pieces: those derived from folk-like themes and those freely written from a harmonic climate.