Maria Felice Clemence de Reiset, Vicomtesse de Grandval, is another name
as famous as it is extensive. Born in 1830, she showed innate taste for
music, and her career was devoted to it. She received instruction from
Flotow at first, doing more valuable work afterward with Saint-Saens.
For a time she was able to take lessons of Chopin. Her works include
practically all forms of composition, but she has shown especial
aptitude for dramatic work and church compositions.
Of her many dramatic works that have been successfully produced, "Le Sou
de Lise" appeared first, in 1859. Among the operas brought out at a
later date are "Les Fiances de Rosa," "La Comtesse Eva," "La Penitente,"
"Piccolino," and "Mazeppa." A lyric scene, "La Foret," for soloists,
chorus, and orchestra, met with a successful production in 1875. Among
her vocal compositions are many songs, some with violin and organ
accompaniments.
Her sacred music takes rank with the very best that modern writers can
show. Her two masses have been frequently given at Paris. Her two
oratorios, "Sainte Agnes" and "La Fille de Jaire," met with a similar
favourable reception. Her Stabat Mater contains an effective "March to
Calvary" and a beautiful "Juxta Crucem," and received the enthusiastic
homage of the critics when first brought out. Several smaller works, for
voices, organ, and piano, are no whit behind the larger compositions in
musical worth. She has also written a grand overture, "Esquisses
Symphoniques," a piano trio, a violin sonata, a suite for flute and
piano, and many other violin and piano pieces. She deserves to rank
among the foremost women composers of our time.
Jeanne Louise Farrenc was another Parisian woman who won fame by
composing. Born in 1804, her career falls in the earlier part of the
nineteenth century. Pursuing the usual studies, harmony with Reicha, and
piano with Hummel and Moscheles, she began to write ambitious works at
an early age. Such merit did some of these works show that Schumann, who
reviewed them, was at first inclined to doubt her ability to write them
unaided. She deserves credit for making a remarkable collection of old
clavichord and piano music, and writing a clear summary of the terms and
abbreviations employed by the early musicians.
Her own compositions have been often performed, even the larger
orchestral numbers. Chief among them are two symphonies and three
overtures. Her chamber music includes a nonette and sextette for
strings, two quintettes, several piano trios, in two of which clarinet
and flute replace the usual violin, a number of sonatas and other pieces
for violin and piano, several 'cello sonatas, some flute and piano
pieces, and numerous piano works and songs. Her daughter, Victorine
Louise, was another gifted musician, but died after a brief career,
leaving a heritage of piano works and songs.
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