Francis Poulenc's Sonata for Clarinet and Piano was premiered in New York City in 1963 by Benny Goodman on clarinet and a young Leonard Bernstein on piano.
Composition History
Debussy's well-known Rhapsody No. 1 for Clarinet and Piano was originally commissioned by the Paris Conservatoire as an examination piece for students.
Historical Context
In 1870, the French Society for Wind Instruments was founded, leading to a high regard for woodwind instruments in France and many works by French composers.
Composer Biography
Camille Saint-Saëns, a composer who lived from 1835 to 1921, not only witnessed but also shaped musical evolution from Romanticism to Modernism.
Historical Context
The Groupe des Six, a group of five male and one female composers, embraced Jean Cocteau's call for a renewal of French music around 1920.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Claude Debussy, a composer featured on this album, held a unique aesthetic that resisted categorization and disliked being called an 'Impressionist'.
Composition History
Camille Saint-Saëns wrote three sonatas for woodwind instruments and piano, including the Clarinet Sonata, just months before his death in 1921.
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