massenet Jules (1842-1912). Lot n° 223

TWO autograph musical manuscripts signed "Massenet", Suite Parnassienne (1902-1912); 1 title page and 30 folio pages; and 93 folio pages (1st page a little soiled, last page a little frayed; publisher's ink stamps). The two manuscripts of the Suite Parnassienne, Massenet's last completed work, dedicated to the Muses, in its two versions: song and piano, and orchestral score. It was in the year of his death, 1912, that Massenet completed this work begun in 1902, a "musical fresco in four parts for orchestra, chorus, and declamation," based on a poem by Maurice Léna (1859-1928), the librettist of Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame. The posthumous publication was made by Heugel in 1913, but the premiere did not take place until November 26, 2003, at the Temple protestant de l'Oratoire du Louvre, under the direction of Thierry Pélicant. The work lasts about 25 minutes. "The Suite parnassienne is a musical fresco for voice, declamation and orchestra, in four parts, each dedicated to a Muse. The first is a Rêverie, placed under the name of Uranie, muse of astronomy; it is a page full of softness, contemplative with its calm melody, with easy and always harmonious modulations. This prelude symbolizes the "Eternal Harmony" of the world. The second, dedicated to Clio, the muse of history, gives Massenet the opportunity to evoke with suavity the "Visions of Antiquity". The declamation of the verses has a larger part. A rustic allegretto frames an elegiac lento. A gentle peroration accompanies the Poet associating the Future with . Massenet has given more importance to the third part, Euterpe, his own muse, to whom he devotes a piece for two female choirs, preceded by a short prelude in which arpeggios flow. The choir is a capella. The phrases alternate or respond to each other and complement each other from one choir to the other. The same motif in an elegant line is repeated incessantly and gives unity to the piece. Everything here is gentle; the conclusion is a pianissimo where the two voices gradually fade away. The Epic is dedicated to Calliope; it is the pretext for a march. Pompous triplet chords first alternate with the verses of the ode, then accompany the verses on the words: "Sonnez parmi les cieux, sonnez, clairons de l'Épopée". Then the march develops on a martial rhythm where brass and drums dominate. The choirs come at one point to reinforce the sounding. A chorus of more religious than warlike garb, Salve virgo virginum, forms a contrast in unisons cut by energetic repetitions of the strings. A few bars of the Marseillaise are heard, as well as military fanfares; the work, which is not short of breath, ends in a brilliant peroration on the first theme in tutti with chorus. (Louis Schneider). The vocal-piano score, under cover with title, is written in black ink on Lard-Esnault/Bellamy paper at 20 lines, and presents numerous erasures and corrections, as well as scratches and glues. Dated at the end: "Paris Janvier 1912", it is divided as follows: I. Uranie (astronomy). Rêverie (4 p.); II. Clio (lyric poetry). Ancient Visions (6 p.); III. Euterpe (music). Double-chorus (6 p.; dated at the end: "Paris 8 Dec. 1902. gd froid"); IV. Calliope (history). Marche historique (14 p. [including 12 bis to avoid the number 13]; date pasted at the bottom of the first page: "Égreville Friday, June 27, 1902. 8 p.m. Admirable weather!... Hay is being made. You can hear the cars in the meadows... In Paris, Monday Manon S.S., Wednesday Thaïs (Opera), Saturday Manon S.S.". The manuscript of the orchestral score (93 pages [with 12 bis instead of 13, and the last page numbered 92 bis]) is in black ink on paper Lard-Esnault Bellamy at 24 lines, signed and dated at the end: "1902-1912. Massenet"; it is divided as follows: I. Uranie (astronomy). Rêverie (p. 1-15); II. Clio (lyric poetry). Ancient Visions (pp. 16-40); III. Euterpe (music). Double-chorus (pp. 41-47); IV. Calliope (history). Marche historique (p. 48-92 bis, Bibliography: Louis Schneider, Massenet (Fasquelle, 1926), p. 287-288. Discography: Chœur lyrique de Paris, Orchestre philharmonique de l'Oise, Thierry Pélicant (Malibran Music 2004).