André Ernest Modeste Grétry (1741 – 1813) was a
composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège
(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 mêlée 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 bête
(Beaut...(+)
André Ernest Modeste Grétry (1741 – 1813) was a
composer from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège
(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 mêlée 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 bête
(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).
SHEET MUSIC