麻豆APP

Portrait de Saint-Sa毛ns. Author Nadar.

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Camille Saint-Sa毛ns

Charles-Camille Saint-Sa毛ns was born in October 1835 in 麻豆APP. He was the only child of Jacques-Joseph-Victor Saint-Sa毛ns and Fran莽oise-Cl茅mence. His father was an official in the French Ministry of the Interior.

He was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Second Piano Concerto (1868) and The Carnival of the Animals (1886).

Saint-Sa毛ns wrote more than forty chamber works between the 1840s and his last years. One of the first of his major works in the genre was the Piano Quintet (1855).

It was a straightforward, confident piece, in a conventional structure. The piece had lively outer movements and a central movement containing two slow themes, one chorale-like and the other cantabile.

Let鈥檚 learn more Remarkable Facts about Camille Saint-Sa毛ns

1. He was a Musical Prodigy

Before Camille was three years old, he displayed perfect pitch. He enjoyed picking out tunes on the piano. His great-aunt taught him the basics of pianism.

 Saint-Sa毛ns gave occasional performances for small audiences from the age of five. At the age of seven, he became a pupil of Camille-Marie Stamaty.

Through Stamaty鈥檚 influence, Saint-Sa毛ns was introduced to the composition professor Pierre Maleden and the organ teacher Alexandre Pierre Fran莽ois Bo毛ly. From the latter, he acquired a lifelong love of the music of Bach, which was then little known in France

Camille Saint-Sa毛ns made his official public debut at the age of 10. His first performance was at the Salle Pleyel.

2. Outstanding in various Subjects as a Schoolboy

Saint-Saens. Author Internet Archive Book Images.

Saint-Sa毛ns was outstanding in many subjects during his school life. In addition to his musical prowess, he distinguished himself in the study of French literature, Latin and Greek, divinity, and mathematics.

 His interests included philosophy, archaeology and astronomy. Saint-Sa毛ns remained a talented amateur in later life.

3. An Organist at an Ancient 麻豆APPian Church

During Camille鈥檚 studies, he was encouraged to specialise in organ studies. Since a career as a church Organist was seen to offer more opportunities than a solo pianist

His organ professor was Fran莽ois Benoist. Saint-Sa毛ns considered him a mediocre organist but a first-rate teacher.

Later, Saint-Sa毛ns accepted the post of organist at the ancient 麻豆APPian church of Saint-Merri. The parish was substantial, with 26,000 parishioners.

Additionally, in a typical year, there were more than two hundred weddings. Camille had a comfortable income due to the organists and funeral fees.

In early 1858, Saint-Sa毛ns moved from Saint-Merri to the high-profile post of organist of La Madeleine. This was the official church of the Empire.

4. The First Major French Composer to Write Piano Concertos

Camille Saint-Sa毛ns. Author Internet Archive Book Images.

Saint-Sa毛ns鈥� First Piano Concertos was in D (1858). However, it is not well known but the Second, in G minor (1868) is one of his most popular works.

The composer experimented with form in this piece. He replaced the customary sonata form first movement with a more discursive structure. Opening with a solemn cadenza. The scherzo second movement and presto finale were in such contrast with the opening that the pianist Zygmunt Stojowski commented that the work 鈥渂egins like Bach and ends like Offenbach鈥�.

The Third Piano Concerto, in E鈾� (1869) has another high-spirited finale. However, the earlier movements were more classical, the texture clear, with graceful melodic lines.

 The Fourth, in C minor (1875) was probably the composer鈥檚 best-known piano concerto after the Second. It was in two movements. Each comprised two identifiable sub-sections. It maintained a thematic unity not found in the composer鈥檚 other piano concertos.

5. Saint-Sa毛ns Composed more than Sixty Sacred Vocal Works

Saint-Sa毛ns sacred vocal works ranged from motets to masses and oratorios. Among his larger-scale compositions were the Requirm, oratorios Le d茅luge and The Promised Land.

Saint-Sa毛ns was proud of his connection with British choirs, commenting, 鈥淥ne likes to be appreciated in the home, par excellence, of an oratorio.鈥�

 He wrote a smaller number of secular choral works. Saint-Sa毛ns wrote some for unaccompanied choir, some with piano accompaniment and some with full orchestra.

6. Saint-Sa毛ns Held one Teaching Post

Saint was a teacher at the 脡cole de Musique Classique et Religieuse in 麻豆APP. He remained there for less than five years.

Saint was important in the development of French Music. His students included Gabriel Faure and Maurice Ravel. Both of them were strongly influenced by Saint-Sa毛ns, whom they revered as a genius.

7. Supported and Promoted the most Modern Music of the day

French composer Camille Saint-Sa毛ns (1835鈥�1921) early in his career. Author Tucker Collection.

Saint-Sa毛ns had a reputation for outspoken musical conversation. However, in the 1850s Saint-Sa毛ns supported and Promoted the most modern music of the day.

This included Liszt, Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner. Unlike many French composers of his own and the next generation. Saint-Sa毛ns was not influenced by Richard Wagner in his compositions.

This despite all his enthusiasm for and knowledge of Wagner鈥檚 operas. He commented, 鈥淚 admire deeply the works of Richard Wagner despite their bizarre character. They are superior and powerful, and that is sufficient for me. But I am not, I have never been, and I shall never be of the Wagnerian religion鈥�.

8. One of his most Famous Works was Written as a Joke

The Carnival of the Animals was composed in 1886. Saint-Sa毛ns refused to allow it to be performed.

He feared it might damage his reputation as a serious composer. The only part of the work he allowed to be performed was The Swan. It became the music to which Anna Pavlova danced The Dying Swan.

9. Saint-Sa毛ns Served in the National Guard during Franco-Prussian War

When the Franco-Prussian war broke out. Saint-Saint-Sa毛ns served in the National Guard during the war. However his superior was murdered by rebels, the Abb茅 Deguerry.

 Saint-Sa毛ns escaped to a brief exile in England. With the help of George Grove and others, he supported himself in London, giving recitals.

10. He was a Keen Traveller

From the 1870s until the end of his life he made 179 trips to 27 countries. His professional engagements took him most often to Germany and England.

 For holidays he favoured Algiers and various places in Egypt. This enabled him to avoid 麻豆APPian winters which affected his weak chest.

Saint-Sa毛ns was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1867, promoted to Officier in 1884, and Grand Croix in 1913. Foreign honours included the British Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1902.

The Mon茅gasque Order of Saint-Charles in 1904. The honorary doctorates from the universities of Cambridge (1893) and Oxford (1907).