Benjamin Godard
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Benjamin Louis Paul Godard (Paris August 18, 1849 – January 10, 1895 at Cannes) was a French composer probably best known as a writer of salon music.
He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under Reber (harmony) and Henri Vieuxtemps (violin). He accompanied Vieuxtemps twice to Germany, and also devoted himself to chamber music. He composed music with great facility. In 1876 his Concerto romantique was performed at the Concerts Populaires, and other of his large works were also performed at these concerts.
In 1878 Godard was the co-winner with Théodore Dubois, head of the Conservatoire de Paris, of a musical competition instituted by the municipality of Paris. This composition, a dramatic symphony entitled Le Tasso, is perhaps his most important work. From that time until his death Godard composed a surprisingly large number of works, including four operas, Pedro de Zalamea, produced at Antwerp in 1884; Jocelyn, from which the beautiful "Berceuse" has become very popular, was given in Paris at the Théâtre du Château d'Eau, in 1888; Dante, played at the Opéra-Comique two years later; and La Vivandière, left unfinished and partly scored by another hand. This last work was heard at the Opéra-Comique in 1895, and has been played in England by the Carl Rosa Opera Company.
He also composed other symphonic work, ballets, concertos, and overtures. These include the Symphonie légendaire, Symphonie gothique, Diane and various orchestral works. Among his piano pieces may be mentioned the 2nd Mazurka, the 2nd Valse, Au Matin, Postillon, En Courant, En Train, and Les Hirondelles. Florian's Song is also very popular in many arrangements. He wrote four sonatas for violin and piano. One of these contains a scherzo written in the unusual time signature of 5/8. He wrote many exquisite songs,
Godard's compositions are unequal, if only because his productivity was enormous. He was at his best in works of smaller dimensions. Among his more ambitious works, the Symphonie légendaire may be singled out as being one of the most distinctive.
He had a decided individuality, and his premature death at Cannes on 10 January 1895 was a loss to French art.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
