The Ballades du soldat were written in 1997 at La Fière, France, a location associated with the La Fière Memorial Park.
Composition History
Aubert Lemeland, the composer, was motivated to write these pieces after reading over a thousand poems written by American soldiers during WWII.
Composer Biography
Aubert Lemeland, the composer, has written extensively for symphony orchestra, with a catalogue that includes eleven symphonies.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Aubert Lemeland intended these piano pieces to be as discreet as possible, like the word 'end' arriving on tiptoe at the end of a film.
Compositional Technique
The Ballades du soldat are a succession of miniatures, each based on a single theme, with harmonies often deduced from the theme itself and a rhythm that is not complex but sometimes implacable.
Performer Biography
Jean-Pierre Ferey, the pianist, is known for his recordings of Jean Cras's works and has received numerous distinctions, including a French Grand Prix du Disque in 1997.
Performer Biography
Jean-Pierre Ferey has given the first public performances of most of the piano cycles by French composer Aubert Lemeland, including the Ballades du Soldat.
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