André Ernest Modeste Grétry (1741 – 1813) was a
composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Ličge
(present-day Belgium), who worked from 1767 onwards in
France and took French nationality. He is most famous
for his opéras comiques.
"Zémire et Azor" (Zémire and Azor) is an opéra comique,
described as a comédie-ballet męlée de chants et de
danses, in four acts by the Belgian composer André
Grétry, The French text was by Jean François Marmontel
based on La Belle et la bęte (Beauty and the Beast) by
Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont, and Amour pour
amour by P. C. Nivelle de La Chaussé. The opera
includes the famous coloratura display piece La
Fauvette in which the soprano imitates birdsong.
The Suite opens with the "Entrée des Genies" (meaning
'genius' in a protecting the spirit way --
Dutch:beschermgeest). The passepied (French
[pasˈpje] 'passing feet') is a 17th- and
18th-century dance that originated in Brittany. The
term can also be used to describe the music to which a
passepied is set. The music is an example of a dance
movement in Baroque music and is almost always a
movement in binary form with a fast tempo and a time
signature of three quavers (eighth notes) per bar, each
section beginning with an upbeat of a single quaver.
The Pantomime (portraying a dramatic act, through
gestures, facial expressions, music and, dance) is from
Act III Scene IV of "Zémire et Azor". The Finale
(Finale: Ali's Ariette, ''Je Suis Encore Tremblant'')
is from Act IV Scene I.
Although originally composed for Opera, I created this
Arrangement for String Quintet (2 Violins, Viola, Cello
& Bass). |
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