Description
Six Pieces from l’Almanach aux Images Gabriel Grovlez
Arranged for Woodwind Quintet by Peter Merry
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in A and Bb, Horn, Bassoon
Score and parts
- Les Marionnettes – The Puppets
- Berceuse de la poupee – A Lullaby for a Doll
- Chanson du chasseur – Hunting Song
- Le pastour – The Shepherd
- Chanson de l’escarpolette – Swinging Song
- Petites litanies de Jesus – Little Litanies to Jesus
These six arrangements come from a set of descriptive piano miniatures, L’almanach aux images – scenes from an almanac – which Grovlez wrote in 1911 after poems by Tristan Klingsor. He was a fine and respected pianist, but better known as a conductor. For 20 years he was director of the Paris Opera and conducted a season with Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe, as well as conducting the first performance of Ravel’s ballet, Mother Goose. His compositions include a ballet, stage works, chamber music, songs and several small-scale works for piano.