Despite the originality of his music, Maurice Emmanuel is still regarded as a marginal figure in music history, with many musicians unaware of his existence.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Maurice Emmanuel, the composer, explored modality, bitonality, and even tritonality in his first Sonatine, which was vastly ahead of its time.
Composer Biography
Emmanuel was expelled from the Conservatoire by his composition teacher, Delibes, for his interest in modal music, preventing him from competing for the prestigious 'Prix de Rome'.
Cultural Impact
Olivier Messiaen, a highly influential 20th-century composer, was one of Maurice Emmanuel's students, indicating the lasting impact of Emmanuel's teachings on modal music.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in July 2020 at the Eglise Évangélique Saint-Marcel in Paris, France, using a C. Bechstein D-282 Concert Grand piano.
Composition History
The first two Sonatinas by Maurice Emmanuel, which should have established him as a leading composer, were only published thirty years after their composition.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Emmanuel believed that the dominance of major and minor modes drastically limited musical expression, advocating for the use of the many other possible modes.
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