Philippe Gaubert
Encyclopedia
Philippe Gaubert was a French
musician who was a distinguished performer on the flute
, a respected conductor
, and a composer
, primarily for the flute.
Gaubert was born in Cahors
in Southwest France
. He became one of the most prominent French musicians between the two World Wars. After a prominent career as a flautist
with the Paris Opéra, he was appointed in 1919, at the age of forty, to three positions that placed him at the very center of French musical life:
In 1907 he participated in the first performance of Maurice Ravel
's Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet
. Among his recordings as conductor, one that he made of Franck
's Symphony in D Minor (with the Conservatoire forces) is particularly notable.
Gaubert's compositions are by no means especially innovative, but his work benefited from the examples of Franck, Ravel, and Debussy
. Naïla, his opera in three acts, premiered at the Paris Opéra
on 7 April 1927. Three of his ballets had their first performances at that venue, as well.
A list of his compositions includes:
Chamber Works:
Vocal Works:
Miscellaneous:
During 1941, Gaubert died of a stroke
while in the French capital. His friend, the journalist Jean Bouzerand, convinced the town of Cahors to create a public garden named in his honor near the river Lot in the late 1930s. When Gaubert was still alive, Albert Roussel
dedicated the movement 'Monsieur de la Péjaudie' in his piece 'Joueurs de Flûte
' to him.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
musician who was a distinguished performer on the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, a respected conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, primarily for the flute.
Gaubert was born in Cahors
Cahors
Cahors is the capital of the Lot department in south-western France.Its site is dramatic being contained on three sides within an udder shaped twist in the river Lot known as a 'presqu'île' or peninsula...
in Southwest France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He became one of the most prominent French musicians between the two World Wars. After a prominent career as a flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
with the Paris Opéra, he was appointed in 1919, at the age of forty, to three positions that placed him at the very center of French musical life:
- Professor of flute at the Conservatoire de ParisConservatoire de ParisThe Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
(professor from Marcel Moyse), - Principal conductor of the Paris Opéra
- Principal conductor of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireOrchestre de la Société des Concerts du ConservatoireThe Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire was a symphony orchestra established in Paris in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini....
.
In 1907 he participated in the first performance of Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
's Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet
Introduction and Allegro (Ravel)
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet was written by Maurice Ravel in 1905...
. Among his recordings as conductor, one that he made of Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
's Symphony in D Minor (with the Conservatoire forces) is particularly notable.
Gaubert's compositions are by no means especially innovative, but his work benefited from the examples of Franck, Ravel, and Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
. Naïla, his opera in three acts, premiered at the Paris Opéra
Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...
on 7 April 1927. Three of his ballets had their first performances at that venue, as well.
A list of his compositions includes:
Chamber Works:
- 3 Aquarelles, for flute, cello and piano
- Ballade, for flute and piano
- Berceuse, for flute and piano
- Cantabile et Scherzetto, for cornet and piano
- Divertissement Grec, for 2 flutes and harp
- 2 Esquisses, for flute and piano
- Fantaisie for clarinet & piano
- Fantaisie, for flute and piano
- Gavotte en rondeau (after Lully's Les ballets du roi), for flute and piano
- Madrigal, for flute and piano
- Morceau Symphonique, for trombone and piano
- Médailles antiques, for flute, violin and piano
- Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando, for flute and piano
- Pièce Romantique, for flute, cello, and piano
- Romance, for flute and piano (1905)
- Romance, for flute and piano (1908)
- Siciliene, for flute and piano
- Sonata for Flute and Piano, No.1
- Sonata for Flute and Piano, No.2
- Sonata for Flute and Piano, No.3
- Sonatine, for flute and piano
- Suite, for flute and piano
- Sur l'eau, for flute and piano
- Tarantelle, for flute, oboe and piano
- Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando for flute & piano
Vocal Works:
- Soir paien, for voice, flute and piano
- Vocalise in form of Barcarolle, for voice and piano
Miscellaneous:
- Cantabile et Scherzetto
During 1941, Gaubert died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
while in the French capital. His friend, the journalist Jean Bouzerand, convinced the town of Cahors to create a public garden named in his honor near the river Lot in the late 1930s. When Gaubert was still alive, Albert Roussel
Albert Roussel
Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period...
dedicated the movement 'Monsieur de la Péjaudie' in his piece 'Joueurs de Flûte
Joueurs de Flûte, flute and piano, Op. 27
Joueurs de Flûte, flute and piano, Op. 27 is a piece by the French composer Albert Roussel.It exists of the following four movements:*1. Pan *2. Tityre*3. Krishna*4...
' to him.
Media
External links
- Brief biographical sketch of Philippe Gaubert on the Naxos RecordsNaxos RecordsNaxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
site - Société des concerts du Conservatoire
- Phillip Gaubert - Classical Archives