Vincent d'Indy

Vincent d'Indy

Source: Quarterly Review

Born on 27 March 1851 (same as Chapí) in Paris to Catholic royalist aristocrats, accomplished composer, Vincent d'Indy, began piano as a child, then studied harmony at age fourteen under composer, Albert Lavignac (famous for his 8 hands 'Galop-marche': IMSLP / YouTube). Among d'Indy's greater influences would be Richard Wagner. D'Indy's Opus 1 is commonly assigned to 'Piano Sonata' in C minor as of 1869. But it is assigned to 'Quatre Romances sans Paroles' at IMSLP and Universalis, which work is published without opus about the same time in other catalogues. IMSLP meanwhile lists 'Piano Sonata' in C minor as a work without opus c 1869 [IMSLP / Wikipedia]. Unable to clarify this mystery, I leave it as it is and move onward:

At age 19 d'Indy enlisted in the National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. He then studied under César Franck at the Paris Conservatoire. His overture, 'Les Piccolomini' premiered in Pasdeloup on 25 January 1874, which he would later employ in 'Wallenstein' (below). Chapi also married one of his cousins, Isabelle de Pampelonne, about that time.

D'Indy was yet a young man about age 25 when he composed 'Andante pour Piano et Violon' in 1876. He wrote 'Poème des Montagnes' Op 15 for piano in 1881 toward publishing in 1885.

'Piano Quartet'   Op 7   A minor   Vincent d'Indy

1878   Revised 1888

Quatuor Joachim   2001

Adrian Corleonis   Edition Silvertrust   IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Poème des Montagnes' ('Poem of the Mountains')   Op 15   Work for piano by Vincent d'Indy

1881   Published 1885

 Michael Schäfer   1 Jan 2007

Adrian Corleonis   IMSLP   Wikipedia

Composed in 1883, d'Indy published 'Cantate Domino' ('Sing to the Lord') Op 22 in 1884, that a setting of 'Psalm 97'.

'Cantate Domino' ('Sing to the Lord')  Op 22   Vincent d'Indy

1885 for soprano / tenor / bass / organ

Ensemble Vocal de Saint François Xavier 

IMSLP

It was on 28 January of 1886 that his choral work, 'Le Chant de la cloche' ('Song of the Bell') Op 18, was first performed in Paris, having been completed in 1883. Of d'Indy's numerous symphonies, 'Symphonie sur un Chant Montagnard Français' ('Symphony on a French Mountain Song') Op 25 arrived in three movements in 1886.

'Symphonie sur un Chant Montagnard Français' ('Symphony on a French Mountain Song')  Op 25

Vincent d'Indy

1886

Piano: Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer

Boston Symphony Orchestra   Charles Munch

IMSLP   Wikipedia

Though first completed in 1873, d'Indy revised his orchestral trilogy titled 'Wallenstein' Op 12 in 1881, then again before its premiere on 26 February 1888 in Paris. D'Indy's inspiration for this work was Friedrich Schiller's eponymous trilogy of 1799.

'Wallenstein'   Op 12  Vincent d'Indy

1873   Revised 1881 / 1888   Premiere 26 Feb 1888 in Paris

BBC National Orchestra of Wales   Thierry Fischer

IMSLP   Wikipedia

D'Indy composed two 'Tableaux de Voyage' in 1889: Op 33 with a set of thirteen pieces for piano and Op 36 with a set of six for orchestra.

'Reve' from 'Tableaux de Voyage   No.13 of Op 33

Work for piano by Vincent d'Indy

1889   Published 1890

Michael Schafer   2006

IMSLP   Don Robertson

In 1894 D'Indy founded the Schola Cantorum de Paris with composers, Charles Bordes and Alexandre Guilmant, as an alternative to the Paris Conservatoire. Of d'Indy's several operas, 'Fervaal' with libretto by himself was completed and published in 1895, though not premiered in Brussels at the Théâtre de la Monnaie until 12 March 1897. Fervaal is son of a Celtic king. His is the trouble of having to renounce love as a warrior, only, of course, to fall in love with the Saracen, Guilhen, who brings him to her palace to heal his wounds from Saracen bandits. Believing that Fervaal is abandoning her when duty returns him to his realm called Cravann, Guilhen then calls for an invasion of Cravann. Fervaal loses this battle, but it is Guilhen who dies in his arms.

'Fervaal'   Op 40   Opera by Vincent d'Indy

1895   Premiere 12 March 1897 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels

Choeurs de la Radio Lettone / Choeurs de l'Opéra national de Montpellier Occitanie

Orchestre National de Montpellier Occitanie   Michael Schonwandt

IMSLP   Dr. Neil A. Kurtzman   Opera Scribe

Phil's Opera World   Wikipedia English   Wikipedia French

D'Indy's motet, 'Deus Israel' Op 41, is dated April 1896. His symphonic poem, 'Istar' Op 42, was also written on 1896 toward its premiere in Brussels on 10 January 1897. Ishtar is the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love and war of which terracotta plaques exist which were carved c 1800 BC. In this poem Istar is tasked to save her lover from the Underworld. To do so she must reach the abode of the Waters of Life to which there are seven gates. At each gate she must divest herself of an article of attire to finally arrive naked. D'Indy's work is thus a set of seven variations. Though d'Indy completed composing 'Fervaal' before Istar, the latter premiered two months earlier in Brussels:

'Istar'   Op 42   Symphonic poem by Vincent d'Indy

1896   Premiere 10 Jan 1897 in Brussels

Choeurs de la Radio Lettone / Choeurs de l'Opéra national de Montpellier Occitanie

Orchestre National de Montpellier Occitanie   Michael Schonwandt

Adrian Corleonis   IMSLP   Wikipedia French   Wikipedia Spanish

Come d'Indy's 'Lied Maritime' ('Maritime Song') Op 43 in G major in 1896 with libretto by himself. D'Indy's 'Symphony No.1' of 1870 was given no opus. His 'Symphony No.2' Op 57 was completed in 1903.

'Lied Maritime'   Op 43   Song by Vincent d'Indy

1896   Libretto by d'Indy

Piano: Kevin Bylsma   Vocal: Timothy Krueger

IMSLP

'Symphony No.2'   Op 57   B-flat major    Vincent d'Indy

Premiere 28 Feb 1904

Royal Scottish National Orchestra   Jean-Luc Tingaud

IMSLP   Wikipedia

Come d'Indy's 'Piano Sonata' in E Op 63 in 1907 toward publishing in 1908. D'Indy published his prose volume, 'Beethoven: A Critical Biography', in 1913.

'Piano Sonata'   Op 63   E minor    Vincent d'Indy

1907

Piano: Diane Andersen

IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Symphony No.3'   Op 70   D major    Last symphony by Vincent d'Indy

1918

Strasbourg Philharmonique Orchestra   Theodor Guschlbauer

Adrian Corleonis   IMSLP

'Poème des Rivages' ('Poem of the Shores')   Op 77    Vincent d'Indy

1921   Published 1922

Luxembourg Philharmonic   Emmanuel Krivine

IMSLP

Like others, d'Indy wasn't a fan of early acoustic recording for reason of poor fidelity. He did, however, visit the Hayes studio in Middlesex on 7 April of 1923 to document portions of 'Poème des Montagnes' Op 15 and 'Tableaux de Voyage' Op 33 on 78 rpm flat disc. No.2 ('Danses Rythmiques') of Op 15 was issued on French HMV P-472. Op 33 was released on French HMV W-506 to include No.4 ('Lac Vert'), No.6 ('La Poste'), No.8 ('Halte, au Soir') and No.9 ('Départ Matinal') [Madden]. Fidelity was better with piano rolls of which D'Indy made a couple for Ampico (American Piano Company) on unidentified dates, those including Domenico Scarlatti's 'Burlesca' in G minor on Ampico 6049. Ampico 6059 included Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 8 of Op 33 [Petrak].

Most of d'Indy's final works in the early thirties were for voice. His last Opus is assigned to a set of four choral works called 'La Vengeance du Mari' Op 105, one of several choral works composed in 1931 before his death in Paris on 2 December 1931.

'String Quartet No.3'   Op 96   D-flat major   Vincent d'Indy

1929

Quatuor Joachim   2001

IMSLP   Wikipedia

'Fantaisie sur un Vieil Air de Ronde Française' ('Fantasy on an Old French Round Song')

Piano work by Vincent d'Indy

1930

Jean Doyen   1960

IMSLP   Adrian Corleonis

Sources & References for Vincent d'Indy:

Bruce Lundgren (All Music)