Joseph-Ermend Bonnal

Klavierwerke

The musical creativity of Bonnal (1880-1944), a disciple of Fauré, often draws on literature or poetry, though it can also arise from an intimate feeling that is biographical in nature or from his own sensitivity towards thespecific nature of southwestern France. His musical style is characterized by elaborate harmonies and a melodic construction that is most often modal. The use of folksong, or even its evocation in an imaginary folklore, is afrequent feature of his works. Here, for the first time in one album, is the whole of his piano output, with the exception of his teaching pieces for children, which are republished separately.