Customer Reviews

Mon Coeur Chante! The Songs of Cecile Chaminade

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I'm an instrumental kind of guy. Though I've been a singer in choirs and soloist in school productions, vocal music has not always been where my heart is. Perhaps it is because of the variability in performers, perhaps it is because of the relative predictability of instrumental music. I like stability and am a hard-core musical conservative; no serial music for me. I've never developed an affinity for classical vocal music. As a result, I'm probably one of the world's most critical listeners when it comes to art songs or classical songs. I'll turn off a CD in seconds if the music hurts my head. However, if it speaks to my heart and more importantly, if it captures my soul, I'll allow it to transport me to another time and place and get so emotionally entwined with the music I become obsessed. Such is the case with my love for the popular songs of Carrie Jacobs-Bond and till now, slightly so with the music of Cécile Chaminade, both of whom flourished in around the same era. I've been a fan of Chaminade's music ever since I first heard a few of her piano and chamber works. But because of my reluctance to test the waters with vocal works, I tended to avoid her songs. In fact, in my collection of recorded music, every single piece by Chaminade is either for piano or strings. That is, till now.

Imagine my own delight at hearing not just one song, but an astonishing 24 that held my attention, captivated my soul and spoke to my heart. Such was the case on hearing the sublimely beautiful recording Mon Coeur Chante!, The Songs of Cécile Chaminade performed by Alaina Warren Zachary (soprano) and R. Stewart Powell (piano) © 2001 Dieu Donné Productions. From the start, I was struck by the clarity of sound and the quality of the playing and singing. The talent of this performing duo is immediately apparent. The pairing of Powell and Zachary is as though one person were performing. They seem to be perfectly matched in their talent and understanding of this woman's music. Zachary's clear sweet voice demonstrates incredible control and uniformity of expression throughout her range. Never a harsh or forced note is heard and each and every phrase is as sweet and smooth as a dollop of honey. Powell's playing is both powerful and controlled and seamlessly matches Zachary's expression.

Chaminade used a number of contemporary poems as the basis for these songs. Her ability to wed her music to the poetry is nothing short of miraculous. Exemplar of this talent as a songwriter and that of these performers is Chanson de neige (Snow Song). How can someone take something as mundane, and even annoying as snow and make it into a prayer to nature? Chaminade has done it with this beautiful, somewhat ambivalent sad and joyous song and Zachary and Powell provide a gorgeous and expressive performance.

These songs are full of thrilling melodic progressions and an emotional range that transport you to the home of angels. Beauty of expression and emotion as only the French language can convey joins with a beautifully played piano and a voice that shows a clear love for song through the French language and you have a real delight. The variety of songs and moods is impressive. From the boundless joy of love (Plaintes d'amour) to the depths of lost love's despair (Rosemonde), this performance will have you laughing, crying, shivering in a bit of the mystery of the night and the moon's attraction (Ballade à la lune) and enjoying the memory of sweet dreams (Les Rêves & Rêve d'un soir). These are but a few of the outstanding tracks on this generously laden disc.
Chaminade's range of expression is amazing and so too is this pair's ability to recreate the feeling and soul of this music. No wonder Chaminade had so many fans and was acclaimed far and wide during her life. If you buy no other music of Chaminade, this one must be the one for it establishes what her music is about and offers a definitive performance unlikely to be matched or exceeded in the time you have left in your life to listen.

Richard A. Reublin
Music Historian, archivist, researcher, Violinist
....

Finally we can enjoy an entire CD devoted to the songs of the fascinating and talented Parisian composer C�cile Chaminade. Adored and encouraged by Bizet, Chaminade became the darling of musical circles around the world. "Chaminade Clubs" sprang up even in the United States, dedicated to her songs, piano works, and chamber music. By the time of her death in 1944, however, her music was considered old-fashioned and, unfortunately, relegated to the realm of "women's parlor music."

Alaina Warren Zachary has here lovingly recorded 24 of Chaminade's 140 songs, many of them out of print. The most popular, "L'anneau d'argent", sold hundreds of thousands of copies in Chaminade's heyday. Zachary's light touch lets the 'little silver ring' glimmer in its own light. In other songs, many of them never recorded before, Zachary's beautiful high voice caresses the delicate emotions of the romantic and sometimes sentimental poetry. The singer has obviously taken the composer's own words to heart: "To me the words mean a great deal, and I never select any poem to put to music that has not made a strong impression upon me through its beauty of sentiment and fitness."

Chaminade, herself a pianist, often accompanied singers in recitals of her music. On this recording, Zachary is joined by pianist R. Stewart Powell, who clearly shares the singer's affinity for ChaminadeÃ*s songs. While some of the more delicate pieces require the light touch of a simple guitar-like accompaniment, others have been compared to Chopin in their pianistic ornamentation and difficulty. PowellÃ*s skilled and sensitive accompanying beautifully balances ZacharyÃ*s soprano voice. It is a very nice collaboration indeed; Chaminade would have been proud.

So treat yourself to a taste, or a whole plate of French pastry with the first recording of nothing but the songs of C�cile Chaminade. Settle into the refined ambiance of turn-of-the-century Paris. You will feel satisfied, not over-full, and you wonÃ*t gain a pound.

Candace A. Magner, D.Mus.A.
author of "The Songs of C�cile Chaminade" The Journal of Singing 57/4, and "C�cile Chaminade" in Ann�herung X :an sieben Komponistinnen (Portraits of Seven Women Composers), Furore, 1999.

Finally we can enjoy an entire CD devoted to the songs of the fascinating and talented Parisian composer Cecile Chaminade. Adored and encouraged by Bizet, Chaminade became the darling of musical circles around the world. "Chaminade Clubs" sprang up even in the United States, dedicated to her songs, piano works, and chamber music. By the time of her death in 1944, however, her music was considered old-fashioned and, unfortunately, relegated to the realm of "women's parlor music."

Alaina Warren Zachary has here lovingly recorded 24 of Chaminade's 140 songs, many of them out of print. The most popular, "L'anneau d'argent", sold hundreds of thousands of copies in Chaminade's heyday. Zachary's light touch lets the 'little silver ring' glimmer in its own light. In other songs, many of them never recorded before, Zachary's beautiful high voice caresses the delicate emotions of the romantic and sometimes sentimental poetry. The singer has obviously taken the composer's own words to heart: "To me the words mean a great deal, and I never select any poem to put to music that has not made a strong impression upon me through its beauty of sentiment and fitness."

Chaminade, herself a pianist, often accompanied singers in recitals of her music. On this recording, Zachary is joined by pianist R. Stewart Powell, who clearly shares the singer's affinity for Chaminade's songs. While some of the more delicate pieces require the light touch of a simple guitar-like accompaniment, others have been compared to Chopin in their pianistic ornamentation and difficulty. Powell's skilled and sensitive accompanying beautifully balances Zachary's soprano voice. It is a very nice collaboration indeed; Chaminade would have been proud.

So treat yourself to a taste, or a whole plate of French pastry with the first recording of nothing but the songs of Cecile Chaminade. Settle into the refined ambiance of turn-of-the-century Paris. You will feel satisfied, not over-full, and you won't gain a pound.

review by Candace A. Magner, D.Mus.A.
author of "The Songs of Cecile Chaminade" in The Journal of Singing 57/4, and "Cecile Chaminade" in Annäherung X :an sieben Komponistinnen (Portraits of Seven Women Composers), Furore, 1999.

I COLLECT BIZARRE AND ECLECTIC MUSIC. THE ONLY CATEGORY THIS MIGHT FIT IN IS "BIZARRE". MY IMPRESSION IS, THIS CD WAS CREATED BY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PIANO TEACHER AND A WANNA-BE OPERA SINGER. IT IS AWFUL. I THREW THE CD DIRECTLY INTO THE TRASH, AND DIDN'T EVEN SAVE THE PLASTIC CASE IT CAME IN.