Godefroid, F. – La Mort d’Orphée

$15.00

Late Romantic
Difficulty: 7-8
Pages: 8

La Mort d’Orphée, a “morceau de genre” and technically sophisticated work meant for the more advanced harpist, is dedicated to Godefroid’s daughter Julia, who would later marry the son of his fellow Belgian Adolphe Sax (the inventor of the saxophone). It tackles a theme from antiquity dear to harpists and musicians alike: the tragedy of Orpheus, who had magical powers over all creatures through his music, but could not secure his own happiness. The drama unfolds from the start on an unsettling seventh chord, and rides along on a slew of minor colored chords. By the time he composed this piece, the felicitously named (Félix) Godefroid had known great grief, with the death of his most loved ones, so it is not surprising that he entrusted his raw emotions to the fingers of his only surviving daughter. Having let loose to the paroxysm, he switches gears into more heavenly spheres, pianissimo. But can he find peace and consolation? In the end, at least within the realm of the piece, he will. A facsimile edition.

SKU: HR124 Categories: , ,

Description

Godefroid La Mort d’Orphée
The Death of Orpheus

Félix Godefroid (1818-1897) was the best-known concert harpist in France during the romantic era, in the wake of virtuosos like cellist Servais and violinist Bériot. While most of his works were formidable pieces for his own recitals, in his old age he also composed some delightful, easier gems for his students. Several of those are gathered in the two books of Pensées musicales. Heart-felt and uplifting, Godefroid’s musical writing reveals his propensity for melody (also in a strong left hand) and capacity for creating enchantment with the simplest devices. Celia Chan Valerio’s CD, released in honor of the bicentenary of his birth, provides a great introduction to this lost fairy-tale world.

Additional information

Weight 2.5 oz
Dimensions 12 × 9 × .07 in