Quintet, Op. 41 played by the Quintette de I'Atelier:
André Proffit (violin)
Jacques Dejean (violin) Pierre Ladhuie (viola) Charles Bartsch (cello) Emile Passani (piano)
Gabriel Piern é (1863-1937) was a French composer and conductor who, at the Paris Conservatoire, studied the organ under César Franck and composition under Massenet. In 1890 he succeeded Franck as organist of Sainte Clotilde and held the position for eight years. In 1903 he was appointed assistant conductor of the Concerts Colonne, and at Colonne's death seven years later Pierné took charge of the concerts and conducted them with great success until his retirement in 1932. He was a prolific composer and typically
French in his grace and elegance. Among his works are a number of operas, oratorios, and ballets. His Piano Quintet, the most important of his chamber works, was performed for the first time in 1919. After an imposing opening movement, Moderato, there follows a movement ' On a Zortzicorhythm,' which is a Basque dance in five-eight time. The finale has a slow introduction in which earlier themes are reviewed, and this leads to an Allegro viva which is dramatic as well as lively.
Harold Rutland