Charles Neustedt: Songe de Printemps (Idylle #2)
The French composer Charles Neustedt (1838-1908) seems to have written a few popular gavottes, tyroliennes and operatic fantasies, but I cannot find much information on his life. Probably born in Saumur, he was a sometime 'professor' at the Couvent des Oiseaux and College Rollin. The first of these institutions was a famous Parisian gaol of the French revolution, which was turned into a convent in 1824. The second was a private college in the Rue Lhomond. I guess he may have been what we would now call a peripatetic music teacher. He was obviously well regarded, as I have seen several works by other composers dedicated to him. In 1879, he took over the Flaxland piano manufacturing business for a few years. This 'Dream of Spring', from 1872, is a really attractive piece with an impassioned central section, and was dedicated to one of the composer's pupils. It is headed by extracts from 'Voici que les grands lys' by the French poet Armand Silvestre (1837-1901) - also set to music by Massenet.
"Voici que les grands lys ont vêtu leur blancheur,
Sur les gazons tremblants l'aube étend sa fraîcheur ;
C'est le printemps ! c'est le matin ! Double jeunesse !
..................................................................................
Le temps est donc venu que tout charme renaisse.
Partout des chants ! Partout des fleurs ! Double réveil !"
This roughly translates (please suggest improvements!) as:
"Here the great lilies display their whiteness,
On lawns trembling dawn extends its freshness;
It's spring! it's morning! Youth redoubled!
................................................................................
The time has come that all that charms is reborn.
Everywhere songs! Flowers everywhere! A great awakening! "
Thumbnail image of lilies of the valley by AlinaCMusat from Pixabay ( https://tinyurl.com/y88nupke ).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk (Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: http://wa.me/441444483794 ) TikTok: / pianogems