The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals) – Camille Saint-Saëns | Harpsichord
Harpsichord transmutation of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Composed in 1886, The Swan is the thirteenth movement of Carnival of the Animals and one of Saint-Saëns’s most enduring melodies. Originally written for solo cello with piano accompaniment, the piece is defined by a continuous melodic line and a calm, suspended harmonic backdrop.
Presented here on the harpsichord, the music is approached through clarity of line and balance, allowing its lyricism and gravity to emerge without reliance on sustained orchestral sonority.
Bruno Martins is a harpsichordist and contemporary musician based in Paris.
Transmutation is Bruno Martins’s practice of changing a work’s musical body through the harpsichord, not simply transferring its notes.
Further essays and notes on Transmutation:
➫ https://brunomartinsart.substack.com
Film by Kaoutar El Hammami.
Filming, editing and color grading by Kaoutar El Hammami.
Subscribe for more harpsichord performances spanning historical repertoire and contemporary approaches:
/ @brunomartinsart
➫ Instagram: / brunomartins.art
#Harpsichord #SaintSaens #TheSwan #CarnivalOfTheAnimals #BrunoMartins #neoharpsichord #neoclavecin