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Date: | Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:58:33 -0500 |
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Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) is a name that has occasionally tantalized
me when mentioned in passing. He was an intimate friend of Proust, I
understand. Born in Venezuela of a German Jewish father, he studied
with Massenet at the Paris Conservatoire, became a conductor and music
critic of Le Figaro, and survived the Nazi occupation of Paris.
Until a few days ago I had never heard a note of Hahn's music or read
anything anybody ever wrote about him. (Just read what Baker's has to
say.) Then on Wisconsin Public Radio I head his Le Bal de Beatrice d'Este,
from 1905. (Beatrice was a Duchess of Renaissance Ferrara (?) who died
young, I think, and da Vinci painted a gorgeous profile portrait of her.)
This piece is akin to Warlock's Capriol Suite, Respighi's Ancient Airs
and Dances, Stravinsky's Pulcinella and Henze's Telemanniana. Quite
nice.
Two questions. Quite a bit of Hahn's music has been recorded, as a
cursory glance at ArkivMusic shows. Does anyone here know any of it?
Any recommendations? I assume that it will not closely resemble the
piece I happened to hear.
Second question: are there any other suites of (very) old dances by
composers of the last century comparable to the pieces I have named?
Thanks.
Jim Tobin
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