Camille Saint-Saëns was a prolific composer, pianist, organist, and musicologist, whose contributions spanned various musical genres and left a lasting impact on the French Romantic music scene.
Early life
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was born on October 9, 1835, in Paris. He displayed prodigious musical talent from an early age. His mother, Clémence Collin, was a pianist and became his first music teacher. After his father died when Camille was an infant, he was largely raised by his mother and his great-aunt, Charlotte Masson, who taught him the basics of piano.
By age seven, Saint-Saëns was already composing pieces and had his first public concert when he was just ten. At this tender age, he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire, a premier music school in France, where he studied organ and composition.
Early career and rise to prominence
In the 1850s, Saint-Saëns held various church positions as an organist in Paris. His prowess on the organ earned him a reputation as one of the best organists in Europe. This experience, combined with his rigorous academic pursuits at the Conservatoire, provided a foundation that would influence his compositions throughout his career.
In 1871, he was one of the founding members of the Société Nationale de Musique, whose motto was “Ars Gallica” (French Art). This society aimed to promote a new and uniquely French music style, which was different from the heavy German Romantic tradition that dominated at the time.
Later life and legacy
Saint-Saëns traveled widely in his later years, visiting places like South America, the Middle East, and Asia. These travels influenced some of his works, bringing in exotic scales and rhythms.
However, with the turn of the century, his style began to be regarded as conservative, especially in the face of emerging composers like Debussy and Ravel. This led to a decline in his popularity, although he continued to compose.
Camille Saint-Saëns died on December 16, 1921, in Algiers. His death marked the end of a remarkable career spanning over six decades. Today, he is remembered not only for his own compositions but also for his influence on subsequent generations of French composers.
Despite facing criticisms in his lifetime for being too conservative or academic, Saint-Saëns’ music is celebrated today for its clarity, structure, and melodious quality. His impact on French Romantic music remains undeniable, and his works continue to be performed and admired worldwide.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921)
Camille Saint-Saëns was a prolific composer, pianist, organist, and musicologist, whose contributions spanned various musical genres and left a lasting impact on the French Romantic music scene.
Early life
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was born on October 9, 1835, in Paris. He displayed prodigious musical talent from an early age. His mother, Clémence Collin, was a pianist and became his first music teacher. After his father died when Camille was an infant, he was largely raised by his mother and his great-aunt, Charlotte Masson, who taught him the basics of piano.
By age seven, Saint-Saëns was already composing pieces and had his first public concert when he was just ten. At this tender age, he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire, a premier music school in France, where he studied organ and composition.
Early career and rise to prominence
In the 1850s, Saint-Saëns held various church positions as an organist in Paris. His prowess on the organ earned him a reputation as one of the best organists in Europe. This experience, combined with his rigorous academic pursuits at the Conservatoire, provided a foundation that would influence his compositions throughout his career.
In 1871, he was one of the founding members of the Société Nationale de Musique, whose motto was “Ars Gallica” (French Art). This society aimed to promote a new and uniquely French music style, which was different from the heavy German Romantic tradition that dominated at the time.
Later life and legacy
Saint-Saëns traveled widely in his later years, visiting places like South America, the Middle East, and Asia. These travels influenced some of his works, bringing in exotic scales and rhythms.
However, with the turn of the century, his style began to be regarded as conservative, especially in the face of emerging composers like Debussy and Ravel. This led to a decline in his popularity, although he continued to compose.
Camille Saint-Saëns died on December 16, 1921, in Algiers. His death marked the end of a remarkable career spanning over six decades. Today, he is remembered not only for his own compositions but also for his influence on subsequent generations of French composers.
Despite facing criticisms in his lifetime for being too conservative or academic, Saint-Saëns’ music is celebrated today for its clarity, structure, and melodious quality. His impact on French Romantic music remains undeniable, and his works continue to be performed and admired worldwide.
Discography
Overtures & Dances
Mēla Guitar Quartet
Celestial Blue
Celia García-García