Episode 353. Canteloube Originals
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The composer Joseph-Marie Canteloube is primarily known for his lush orchestral arrangements of folk songs from his native Auvergne region. However, he also composed other work, including arrangements of French folk songs (from regions other than the Auvergne!) as well as original works including the lush orchestral song cycle Triptyque and a fascinating and unique cycle for voice and piano entitled L’arada (The Tilled Earth), set to poems in the Languedoc dialect. This work has been studied, promoted, and recorded by soprano Karen Coker Merritt, who deserves our especial thanks for bringing this unique work to our attention. Examples of all of these works are featured on this episode, which also does not shy away from exploring Canteloube’s difficult political legacy as a proud right-wing nationalist and supporter of the collaborationist Vichy government during World War II. I believe that we can and should decry such positions while at the same time exploring these works independently of and stripped (as much as possible) of their political associations. Performers (several accompanied by the composer himself) include Georges Thill, Karen Coker Merritt (performing two songs from L’arada with the exceptional pianist Sean Kennard), Geneviève Rex, Lucie Daullène, Véronique Gens, Netania Davrath, Bruno Laplante, María Bayo, and, transcendently, Frederica von Stade.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Traditional French, arr. Joseph Canteloube, orchestrated Gershon Kingsley. Netania Davrath, Orchestra conducted by Gershon Kingsley [1966]
- Rossignolet qui chants (Chants paysans Béarn)
- Dans le tombeau (Chants des Pays Basques)
Joseph Canteloube, Roger Frêne: I. Offrande à l’été (Triptyque). Frederica von Stade, Antonio de Almeida, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1985]
Joseph Canteloube, Étienne Clémentel, J.H. Louwyck: Vercingétorix (excerpt). Georges Thill, Joseph Canteloube [from 1933 newsreel]
Traditional French, arr. Joseph Canteloube: Y a rien de si charmant (Chants de France [Savoie]). Lucie Daullène, Joseph Canteloube [1949]
Traditonal French, arr. Joseph Canteloube: Où irai-je me plaindre? (Chants de France, Book I/2). Geneviève Rex, Joseph Canteloube [ca. 1945]
Traditional French, arr. Joseph Canteloube: Auprès de ma blonde (Chants de France, Book I/1). Frederica von Stade, Martin Katz [1977]
Traditional French, arr. Joseph Canteloube: Délicieuses cimes (Chants de France, Book I/4). Véronique Gens, Serge Baudo, Orchestre National de Lille Région Nord-Pas de Calais [2007]
Joseph Canteloube, Roger Frêne: II. Lunaire (Triptyque). Frederica von Stade, Antonio de Almeida, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1985]
Traditional Basque, arr. Joseph Canteloube: Nik badut maiteñobat (Chants des Pays Basques, No. 2). María Bayo, Víctor Pablo Pérez, Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife [1989]
Traditional French, arranged Joseph Canteloube: L’autre jour dans une sente (Chants de la Touraine, No. 2). Bruno Laplante, Jean Eudes Vaillancourt [CBC, Montréal 01.IV.69]
Joseph Canteloube, Antonin Perbosc: from L’arada. Karen Coker Merritt, Sean Kennard [2021]
- III. La mosada
- VI. Lauraires e trobaires
Joseph Canteloube, Roger Frêne: III. Hymne dans l’aurore (Triptyque). Frederica von Stade, Antonio de Almeida, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1985]
