Cécile Chaminade (1857 - 1944) was born in Paris and became a famous French composer and pianist.
She was first taught by her mother and when she was eight she played some of her compositions to Georges Bizet, who was impressed by her talent. She studied composition with Benjamin Godard, but not officially, because her father disapproved of her music education (she never had a proper conservatory training). But she was encouraged by Camille Saint-Saëns, Emmanuel Chabrier and Bizet to pursue her career.
She gave her first concert when she was 18 years old, and from then on her compositions gradually became popular. After a tentative debut with the premiere of her first piano trio, opus 11 (1880), in 1888 works for orchestra were premiered: the ballet Callirhoë, opus 37 in Marseille, a Concertstück for piano and orchestra, opus 40, and a dramatic symphony with choir Les Amazons, opus 26 in Antwerp.
In 1892 she made her debut in England, where her work would become very popular. Chaminade married an elderly music publisher from Marseilles in 1901, but after his death a few years later did not remarry. In 1908 she visited the United States, where a warm welcome awaited her from her many admirers. She made her debut there with her Concertstück with the Philadelphia Orchestra on November 7, 1908.
Before and after World War I, Chaminade recorded many piano rolls for the player piano. In London in 1903 she made gramophone recordings of six of her compositions for the Gramophone and Typewriter Company, which are among the most sought after recordings for piano by collectors. The famous French composer Ambroise Thomas said of Chaminade, "This is not a woman who composes but a composer who is a woman." In 1913 she was awarded membership in the Legion of Honor as the first female composer.
Chaminade's oeuvre is extensive. She wrote mostly character pieces for piano, and salon songs. Some notable pieces include a Suite for orchestra (1881), an opéra-comique La Sévillane, op. 10 (1882), 2 piano trios, a concertino for piano and orchestra, ballet music and other orchestral works. The Concertino for flute and orchestra, opus 107 which she wrote on commission from the Paris Conservatory for the 1902 flute competition was her last composition for orchestra. Her compositions for piano include some 200 pieces in the romantic style, including a Sonata in c minor for piano, opus 21 and an the Étude symphonique, opus 28. Chaminade's compositions largely fell into oblivion during the second half of the 20th century. Some of her songs were recorded by Anne Sofie von Otter. Her most popular and frequently played composition is the Concertino for flute and orchestra in D major, op. 107.
Chaminade has been called a typical "lady composer" because she often wrote in the French salon style, known more for its tasteful tunes than any great depth of feeling. But I disagree with that statement where it concerns her best works, such as the present piano trio. Listen for yourself!
Chaminade's Piano Trio No 2 in A Minor is played by the ATOS Trio (Annette von hehn, violin; Stefan Heinemeyer, cello; Thomas Hoppe, piano). The trio is in 3 movements and was first published in 1887.
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