Autographed first edition
score of the pianist’s Trio Fantastique, “Les Sorcières” (The Witches) op. 39
dedicated to the amateur soprano, and musical philanthropist, Henriette Fuchs.
To Madame H. Fuchs,
Affectionate tribute of her devoted admirer, Louis Diémer.
The score published by
Durand et Schoenewerck in 1887 is 25 pages and written for a soprano,
mezzo-soprano and contralto with piano accompaniment; to a poem by Alfred
Grimault.
Diémer (1843-1919)
trained under Marmontel, Thomas and Benoist at the Paris Conservatoire. He succeeded Marmontel as head of the piano
department in 1888. However, the pianist
was not just a pupil. He was a composer
for the instrument, an editor of other composer’s works, as well as an author
on various piano skills. His pupils read
like a who’s who of the piano World of the period, Cortot, Casadesus (Robert
& Gaby), Nat, Risler, Lazare-Levy, Ciampi, Casella, Batalla, Benvenuti,
Boskoff, Dupre, Etlin, Schmitz and Stojowski are among a few of his best known
pupils. Saint-Saëns also dedicated his
5th Piano Concerto to him, Franck dedicated his Symphonic Variations to
him. Lalo dedicated works to him and
Tchaikovsky was working on a 3rd Piano Concerto at the time of his death which
was to be dedicated to the pianist.
Diémer also helped to resurrect the use of the harpsichord with his
Société des Instruments Anciens. He also
made a group of recordings in 1905.
Henriette Fuchs (1861-1927) was a member of Parisian Protestant society. An amateur soprano, she was also a philanthropist and started the Concordia Chorus under Widor. Numerous composers, Charles Gounod, Ambroise Thomas, Gabriel Fauré, Emmanuel Chabrier, Edouard Lalo, Charles Marie Widor and others dedicated works to her and valued her advice, especially at the private salons she would hold
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Music, Inc.
Music Antiquarian and Appraiser
New York, New York
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