Sauguet, Henri : Air doux pour rêver d'hier
Work Overview
First Publisher:Salabert
Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:Various works
Total Playing Time:1 min 00 sec
Copyright:Under Copyright Protection
Commentary (1)
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Last Updated: August 29, 2024
[Open]
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
A short piece written by Sauguet for Marguerite Long's late-career publication, "La Petite Méthode de piano" (The Little Piano Method). It is in 3/4 time, Andantino con malinconia, and A minor. A languid, slightly sleepy melody in the right hand floats over a soft left hand with a syncopated rhythmic pattern. It teaches legato and cantabile playing, and introduces the style of a lullaby. It is at the level of Burgmüller. While Long's method primarily focuses on fundamental finger exercises, a significant feature is that, in addition to Sauguet, many distinguished composers contributed their own distinctive short pieces.
Pieces such as the following made their first appearance here:
- Mompou: "Sur la pointe des pieds" (On Tiptoe)
- Milhaud: "Exercice" (Exercise)
- Daniel-Lesur: "Les Cloches de la Place Vendôme" (The Bells of Place Vendôme)
- Daniel-Lesur: "Chant pastoral" (Pastoral Song)
- Jolivet: "Danse Caraïbe" (Caribbean Dance)
- Dutilleux: "Tous les chemins mènent à Rome" (All Roads Lead to Rome)
- Auric: "Petite Marche" (Little March)
- Françaix: "Rock and Roll du Commandant et du Capitaine" (Rock and Roll of the Commander and the Captain)
In 2009, a collection titled "Album de Marguerite" (Marguerite's Album) was also released, featuring only the short pieces (20 works by 17 composers) from the method book. It is certainly worth revisiting.