Composer of the Month-October Camille Saint-Saens

Camille Saint Saens Born in Paris, France on October 9, 1835 Died in Algiers, France on December 16, 1921

Camille’s home country: France

Milestones… At age 2 – perfect pitch At age 3 – learned to read and write At age 4 – composed his first piece of music At age 5 – performed in his first concert

Camille’s Interests Music Geology Mathematics Botany Poetry

The Carnival of the Animals was performed privately in 1886 The Carnival of the Animals was performed privately in 1886. It wasn’t published until after his death.

Danse Macabre http://www.retroist.com/2009/10/06/danse-macabre-cartoon-1980/ Camille wrote an art song in 1872 for voice and piano based on a French poem and then, two years later, expanded it into a tone poem. Danse Macabre tells the story of “Death” calling on skeletons to come out and dance at midnight on Halloween night. When the rooster crows, they must return to their graves until the next year.

Tone Poem Danse Macabre, Saint Saens The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dukas Started around 1850 with Liszt Also called a symphonic poem Based on poetry or a story Programmatic- the music is about something Examples: Danse Macabre, Saint Saens The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dukas Ma Vlast, Smetana