French Music for Harp & String Quartet

Marcel TOURNIER, Marcel Samuel-Rousseau and André Caplet Marcel TOURNIER Harpist and composer, Marcel Tournier was born in Paris in June 1878 and died in 1951.He started studying the harp at the age of 16 with Raphaël Martenot and Alphonse Hasselmans. Two years later, he entered the 'Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris' where he won a first prize in 1899. He also was a student of Caussade and Lenepveu for composition. In 1909 he won a Second Prize in Rome for his cantate 'La Roussalka'. In the same year, the Institut granted him the Rossini Prize for his cantate 'Laure et Pétrarque'. At the same time he joined both the 'Société de Concerts' and the 'Théâtre de l'Opéra' as harpist. In 1912 he was appointed professor at the 'Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris' where he remained for 36 years. Many of his students held important positions around the world and continued teaching his legacy. Marcel Tournier played an important role as a professor and artist in the Conservatoire and Member of the Jury of Exams and Compositions of Paris. His music let us hear at the same time all the poetic and virtuosity aspects of the harp which has proved to have unlimited resources. Moreover, the large majority of his work is written for harp solo, the violin and cello being complementary. In this recording we are listening to two of his main works for harp and string quartet. In the piece entitled 'Féerie' the harp transports us in the dream world of elves. With the three 'Images' we are literally travelling through the magic of oriental Algeria. Marcel Tournier's theory and different ways of writing for the harp are summarised in his book : « La Harpe à travers le monde et l'Ecriture de la Harpe », published by 'Lemoine' edition. Marcel Tournier remains until today one of the most important harp composers. Like most of his contemporary's he was influenced by the large and so celebrated movement presented by the Impressionism. Marcel Samuel-Rousseau (1882-1855) Began his studies with his father Samuel Alexandre Rousseau. Later he joined Lenepveu 's class at the Paris Conservatory. He was awarded the second Grand Prix of Rome with Cantate 'Maia' (1905). Over his professional career he added his father's first name to his owns, and composed under the name of Marcel SamuelRousseau. He was professor of Harmony at the Paris Conservatory (1916-1952) and Artistic Director of the Paris Opera (1942-1944). In 1945 he was elected to the Beaux Arts Academy. His only piece for harp is 'Variations Pastorales sur un vieux Noel' and Marcel Tournier wrote the accompagnement for this quartet. André Caplet André Caplet was born in 1878. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire (1896-1901). In 1901, he won the 1st Grand Prix of Rome with his cantata 'Myrrha'. Timpanist at the Colonne Concerts, then assistant, he quickly revealed himself as an excellent orchestra conductor. In 1899 he was the music director of the Odeon. Between 1910-1914,he conducted the Opera of Boston. He ensured the creation of 'Martyre de Saint Sebastien' (1911) in Paris. Claude Debussy also put him in charge of part of the scoring.A volunteer in 1914, he was wounded by the gas and had to temporarily renounce his job as a director of the school of American Music Conductors as well as the management of the orchestras of the Opéra de Paris (1919) Concerts Lamoureux (1920) and Concerts Pasdeloup (1922), both for health reasons and to ensure his work as a composer. In the instrumental domain, he wrote at the