Paul Ladmirault
Encyclopedia
Paul Ladmirault was a French
composer
whose music expressed his devotion to Brittany
.
. A child prodigy, he learned piano
, organ
and violin
from an early age. At the age of 8, he composed a sonata for violin and piano. At the age of fifteen, when still a student of the Nantes High School, he wrote a three act opera Gilles de Retz. It was first performed on May 18, 1893.
He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire to study under Gabriel Fauré
, learning harmony under Antoine Taudou and counterpoint from André Gedalge
. He orchestrated a few works by Fauré. Like his fellow students - Maurice Ravel
, Florent Schmitt
, Louis Aubert
, Jean Roger-Ducasse
, Georges Enesco - he had become well known before he left the Conservatory. In 1903, he wrote a Breton Suite in three movements and then the Brocéliande de matin. These two works were orchestral extracts from his second opera, Myrdhin (Merlin), an epic work which he worked on from 1902-9, and continued to revise until 1921, but which has never been performed.
He also wrote Young Cervantes for small orchestra, Valse triste and Épousailles for orchestra and piano. The ballet, La Prêtesse de Korydwenn (The Priestess of Ceridwen
) was created at the Paris Opera on December 17 1926.
In the field of religious music, he wrote a brief Mass for organ and choir, and a Tantum ergo for voice, organ and orchestra.
He also wrote articles on music in various periodicals. Appointed professor of harmony and counterpoint at the Nantes conservatoire, Ladmirault rarely left the Nantes region, calling himself a "homebody" who disliked to travel.
Claude Debussy
wrote that his work possessed a "fine dreamy musicality", commenting on its characteristically hesitant character by suggesting that it sounded as if it was "afraid of expressing itself too much". Florent Schmitt
said of him: "Of all the musicians of his generation, he was perhaps the most talented, most original, but also the most modest".
All Ladmirault's music is imbued with his attachment to Brittany. It is found throughout his Gaelic Rhapsody, Briere, Forest and Symphony in four movements. He was also closely associated with Breton nationalism
. He advocated cultural autonomy for Brittany in the face of the centralisation of French culture in Paris and became a subscriber of the Breton fascist paper Breiz da Zont
, an offshoot of the Breton Autonomist Party
. He also joined the artistic group Seiz Breur
. He was initiated into the Celtic esotericist movement led by François Jaffrenou. In 1908, the Gorsedd of Brittany nominated him as a Druid, and he took up the bardic name 'Oriav'. He composed music on Celtic themes, such as the ballet La Prêtesse de Korydwenn, and the symphonic poem he wrote as musical accompaniment for the film Briere
. He worked on translations of ancient Gallic texts.
In 1928 Ladmirault published a manifesto of Breton music in the first issue of the Celticist journal Kornog. He argued that Breton composers should follow the example of the Mighty Handful, the Russian nationalist musical group, by rejecting German and Italian musical models and relying on folk traditions and pentatonic scale
s. Nevertheless, he took the view that Breton folk music was cruder than its "civilised" Irish and Scottish counterparts. He justified his use of only Irish musical sources in his Celtic ballet La Prêtesse de Korydwenn, writing "several themes, jigs, war dances are Irish. You would find no borrowings from Breton folk music".
In 1929, he helped to found the Nantes Celtic Circle.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
whose music expressed his devotion to Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
Life
Ladmirault was born in NantesNantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
. A child prodigy, he learned piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
from an early age. At the age of 8, he composed a sonata for violin and piano. At the age of fifteen, when still a student of the Nantes High School, he wrote a three act opera Gilles de Retz. It was first performed on May 18, 1893.
He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire to study under Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
, learning harmony under Antoine Taudou and counterpoint from André Gedalge
André Gedalge
André Gedalge , was an influential French composer and teacher.- Biography :André Gedalge was born at 75 rue des Saints-Pères, in Paris, where he first worked as a bookseller and editor specializing in livres de prix for public schools...
. He orchestrated a few works by Fauré. Like his fellow students - Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, Florent Schmitt
Florent Schmitt
Florent Schmitt was a French composer.-Early life:A Lorrainer, born in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Schmitt originally took music lessons in Nancy with the local composer Gustave Sandré. Subsequently he entered the Paris Conservatoire. There he studied with Gabriel Fauré, Jules Massenet, Théodore Dubois,...
, Louis Aubert
Louis Aubert
Louis François Marie Aubert was a French composer.-Biography:Louis Aubert was a child prodigy. His parents, recognizing their son's musical talent, sent him to Paris to receive an education at an early age...
, Jean Roger-Ducasse
Jean Roger-Ducasse
Jean Jules Amable Roger-Ducasse was a French composer.-Biography:Jean Roger-Ducasse studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Emile Pessard and André Gedalge, and was the star pupil and close friend of Gabriel Fauré...
, Georges Enesco - he had become well known before he left the Conservatory. In 1903, he wrote a Breton Suite in three movements and then the Brocéliande de matin. These two works were orchestral extracts from his second opera, Myrdhin (Merlin), an epic work which he worked on from 1902-9, and continued to revise until 1921, but which has never been performed.
He also wrote Young Cervantes for small orchestra, Valse triste and Épousailles for orchestra and piano. The ballet, La Prêtesse de Korydwenn (The Priestess of Ceridwen
Ceridwen
In Welsh medieval legend, Ceridwen , also spelled Cerridwen, was an enchantress, mother of Morfran and a beautiful daughter Creirwy. Her husband was Tegid Foel, and they lived near Bala Lake in north Wales...
) was created at the Paris Opera on December 17 1926.
In the field of religious music, he wrote a brief Mass for organ and choir, and a Tantum ergo for voice, organ and orchestra.
He also wrote articles on music in various periodicals. Appointed professor of harmony and counterpoint at the Nantes conservatoire, Ladmirault rarely left the Nantes region, calling himself a "homebody" who disliked to travel.
Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
wrote that his work possessed a "fine dreamy musicality", commenting on its characteristically hesitant character by suggesting that it sounded as if it was "afraid of expressing itself too much". Florent Schmitt
Florent Schmitt
Florent Schmitt was a French composer.-Early life:A Lorrainer, born in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Schmitt originally took music lessons in Nancy with the local composer Gustave Sandré. Subsequently he entered the Paris Conservatoire. There he studied with Gabriel Fauré, Jules Massenet, Théodore Dubois,...
said of him: "Of all the musicians of his generation, he was perhaps the most talented, most original, but also the most modest".
Breton Celticism
Breton nationalism
Breton nationalism is the nationalism of the traditional province of Brittany in France. Brittany is considered to be one of the six Celtic nations...
. He advocated cultural autonomy for Brittany in the face of the centralisation of French culture in Paris and became a subscriber of the Breton fascist paper Breiz da Zont
Breiz da Zont
Breiz da Zont , was a Breton nationalist periodical active during the 1930s. It was affiliated to an extremist offshoot of the Breton Autonomist Party....
, an offshoot of the Breton Autonomist Party
Breton Autonomist Party
The Breton Autonomist Party was a political party which existed in Brittany from 1927 to 1931-Origin:The party was created at the first congress of the nationalist journal Breiz Atao in Rosporden on September 1927. It followed from establishment of the Unvaniez Yaouankiz Vreiz...
. He also joined the artistic group Seiz Breur
Seiz Breur
Seiz Breur was an artistic movement founded in 1923 in Brittany. Although it adopted the symbolic name seiz breur, meaning seven brothers in the Breton language, this did not refer to the number of members, but to the title of a folk-story...
. He was initiated into the Celtic esotericist movement led by François Jaffrenou. In 1908, the Gorsedd of Brittany nominated him as a Druid, and he took up the bardic name 'Oriav'. He composed music on Celtic themes, such as the ballet La Prêtesse de Korydwenn, and the symphonic poem he wrote as musical accompaniment for the film Briere
Brière
Brière is the marsh area to the north of the Loire estuary in France at its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean. The residents of Brière are called Brièrons...
. He worked on translations of ancient Gallic texts.
In 1928 Ladmirault published a manifesto of Breton music in the first issue of the Celticist journal Kornog. He argued that Breton composers should follow the example of the Mighty Handful, the Russian nationalist musical group, by rejecting German and Italian musical models and relying on folk traditions and pentatonic scale
Pentatonic scale
A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave in contrast to a heptatonic scale such as the major scale and minor scale...
s. Nevertheless, he took the view that Breton folk music was cruder than its "civilised" Irish and Scottish counterparts. He justified his use of only Irish musical sources in his Celtic ballet La Prêtesse de Korydwenn, writing "several themes, jigs, war dances are Irish. You would find no borrowings from Breton folk music".
In 1929, he helped to found the Nantes Celtic Circle.
Opera and ballet
- Gilles de Retz, opera, performed at Nantes, 18 May 1893,
- Myrdhin, opera, completed 1921 (never performed)
- La Prêtesse de Korydwenn, ballet performed by l'Opéra-Comique, 17 December 1926,
- Glycères, operetta (Paris, 1928).
Orchestral music
- A symphony in four movements, (1909),
- En Forêt, symphonic poem, performed on Jan 31 1932 by l'Orchestre symphonique de Paris, conducted by Eugène Bigot,
- Suite bretonne (1903),
- incidental music for Tristan et Iseult by Joseph Bédier and Louis Artus (Nantes, 1929),
- Valse triste, for piano and orchestra, performed at Paris, 4 March 1934,
- Brocéliande au matin, symphonic poem (Concerts ColonneConcerts ColonneThe Colonne Orchestra is a French symphony orchestra, founded in 1873 by the violinist and conductor Édouard Colonne.-History:While leader of the Opéra de Paris orchestra, Édouard Colonne was engaged by the publisher Georges Hartmann to lead a series of popular concerts which he founded under the...
, 28 November 1909), - Epousailles, for piano and orchestra
- La BrièreLa BrièreLa Brière is a 1923 novel by Alphonse de Chateaubriant that won the Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française for that year....
, orchestral suite, 1925 - La Jeunesse de Cervantès, for small orchestra.
Chamber music
- String Quartet (1933),
- Fantaisia for violin and piano (1899),
- Chevauchée, fantasia on Scottish reels, trio for violin, violincello and piano,
- Romance for string quartet
- The River, trio in E Major for violin, violincello and piano,
- Memoirs of an Ass, after Sophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de SégurSophie Rostopchine, Comtesse de SégurSophie, Countess of Ségur was a French writer of Russian birth....
, - String Quintet (1933),
- Shadow and Light for violin and piano (1935),
- Sonata for violin and piano (1931),
- Sonata for violincello and piano (1939),
- Sonata for clarinet and piano (1942),
- Carillon (1929),
- Variation on airs biniou for two pianos
- Choral and Variations (1936) for piano and wind quintette
- Four Piano Sketches: Chemin creux - Valse mélancolique - Vers l'église dans le soir - Minuit dans les clairières,
- Piano Pieces (Breton Suite for two pianos).
Vocal music
- Old Melodies, for tenor, string quartet and piano (1897),
- Brief Mass, for choir and organ,
- Tantum ergo for voice, organ and orchestra.
Others
- mélodies,
- numerous arrangements of traditional Breton songs,
- Two Breton Dances, published posthumously.