Description
A perfect example of Victorian salon music, Elgar’s Chanson de Matin is a companion piece to his Chanson de Nuit – both works having been written, or more correctly, rediscovered, by Elgar in 1899 in an attempt to raise much-needed funds. He very much viewed the pieces as ‘pot-boilers’ and he must have been very gratified to see their popularity (and his bank balance) swell. Chanson de Matin, in particular, still holds huge public affection, which can in no small part be attributed to its beautiful theme.
At the time many viewed Elgar as a rather provincial composer. However, all this was about to change as in the same year he had also completed the orchestration of his Enigma Variations , and with it securing his rightful position as one of the greatest English composers.
Chanson de Matin was first published in several versions but was probably originally written for violin and piano. Here it is presented in an arrangement for wind trio (flute or oboe, clarinet in B flat, and bassoon). Other versions are also available for wind quintet and wind quartet.
