Ernest Chausson

The Numbers
 1855-1899
 wrote 37 published mélodies, 6 other vocal works, and 9 unpublished melodies
 3 songs were for voice and orchestra, and some others could be for either
orchestra or piano

Biographical Notes
 Born in Paris in 1855
 His father was a public works contractor
 His tutor was the person who inspired his love for the arts
 At age 16, he entered into Parisian salon culture

1875 enrolled in law faculty after pressure from his parents

1876 graduated, and later earned a doctorate
1877 became a barrister at the court of appeals in Paris
1879 began to study from Massenet
1881 left school and began his career as a composer- wrote a piano trio
1878 his first compositional period starts
1879, 1880, and 1882 went to Germany to see Wagner’s operas
1882 writes Viviane, a symphonic poem, for his then-fiancée Jeanne Escudier
1883 gets married and they go to see Parsifal for their honeymoon
1886 he becomes secretary of the Societé Nationale de Musique
1894 his father dies
1899 Chausson dies in a cycling accident

About the Songs

 First period of song composition: 1878-1886
o Chausson was still discovering his musical language
o Elegant melodic lines and harmonies
o Influenced by Massenet
o Reasonably entertains pretty ideas; he was not aloof, but his music was not
focused on deep feelings
 Second period: 1886-1894
o More dramatic and elaborate style
o Influenced by Wagner, as well as by the Parisian musical elite (including Saint-
Saëns and Franck)
o Mostly large-scale works
 Third Period: 1894-1899
o Discovered Russian novelists (Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy) and Symbolists poets
o Began to break away from Wagnerian influence to a style that was a more classic
and “healthier” French
 o Influenced by his friend Debussy

Important Songs

1879: Le Charme- evident of his First Period of style

1879-1882: Sept Mélodies, op. 2- known as “small masterpieces”
1880: Nanny- still in his first period, but shows the influence of Franck
1882: Poème de l’amour et de la mer- song cycle for voice and orchestra
1893-96: Serres chaudes- a song cycle to the poetry of Maeterlinck. Exhibits variety and
harmonic subtlety

Bibliography

Gallois, Jean. “Chausson, (Amadée-) Ernest”. Oxford Music Online, https://doi-

org.ezproxy.depaul.edu/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05490.

Staff, Rovi. “Ernest Chausson: Biography”. AllMusic, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/

ernest-chausson-mn0001432208/biography.