Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1860

Average_duration

:

4:09

"Extase" is a solo piano piece composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1899. It was premiered by the composer himself on January 22, 1900, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. The piece is part of a collection of six pieces titled "Miscellaneous Pieces," which were composed during the last years of Saint-Saëns' life. "Extase" is a one-movement piece that lasts approximately four minutes. The piece is characterized by its dreamy and ethereal quality, which is achieved through the use of delicate and flowing arpeggios, as well as the use of the pedal to create a blurred and hazy effect. The piece is in the key of E-flat major and is marked "Andantino quasi adagio." The piece begins with a simple and gentle melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a soft and flowing arpeggio in the left hand. The melody is then repeated with slight variations, and the arpeggio becomes more complex and intricate. The middle section of the piece features a more dramatic and intense melody, which is played in the left hand while the right hand continues to play the flowing arpeggios. The piece then returns to the opening melody, which is played with even more delicacy and tenderness than before. Overall, "Extase" is a beautiful and evocative piece that showcases Saint-Saëns' skill as a composer and pianist. Its dreamy and ethereal quality makes it a popular choice for recitals and concerts, and it remains a beloved piece in the piano repertoire.

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