Composer of the Month-October

1. Composer of the Month-October Camille Saint-Saens

2. Camille Saint Saens Born in Paris, France on October 9, 1835 Died in Algiers, France on December 16, 1921

3. Camille’s home country: France

4. Milestones… • At age 2 – perfect pitch • At age 3 – learned to read and write • At age 4 – composed his first piece of music • At age 5 – performed in his first concert

5. Camille’s Interests • Music • Geology • Mathematics • Botany • Poetry

6. The Carnival of the Animalswas performed privately in 1886. It wasn’t published until after his death.

7. Danse Macabre • http://www.retroist.com/2009/10/06/danse-macabre-cartoon-1980/ Camille wrote an art song in 1872 for voice and piano based on a French poem and then, two years later, expanded it into a tone poem. Danse Macabre tells the story of “Death” calling on skeletons to come out and dance at midnight on Halloween night. When the rooster crows, they must return to their graves until the next year.

8. Tone Poem Examples: Danse Macabre, Saint Saens The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dukas Ma Vlast, Smetana • Started around 1850 with Liszt • Also called a symphonic poem • Based on poetry or a story • Programmatic- the music is about something