Reynaldo Hahn

Caprice Mélancolique Et Autres Pièces

At the time Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) tackled music for two pianos, Belle Époque salons were already vying for this gifted 17-year-old who had made himself known by publishing a song whose success was going tobe crowned by a place in posterity: Si mes vers avaient des ailes. Dated 1891, the Scherzo lent surprises with its very title, a veritable oxymoron since the scherzo is normally distinguished by its rapidity. From it, the composer kept only the three-beat rhythmic pattern and the tripartite structure (ABA), with B serving as a trio. Previously unpublished, this expressive dance with its moderate tempo had its world premiere recordingbyLeslie Howard (with Mattia Ometto), who prefaced the present publication. Built on an improvised theme while dusk was wrestling with night, the Caprice mélancolique of 1897 takes the form of a waltz-fantasy inquadruple time, its originality being heightened by the contrasting central part. The moving triptych Pour bercer un convalescent, dedicated in 1915 by Private Reynaldo to 'Henri Bardac, sergeant in the306^th infantry, seriously wounded at the battle of the Aisne', combines modesty and melancholy with infinite delicacy: its healing powers are of all times.