Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Elegy

Compose Date

:

1920

Average_duration

:

4:33

Camille Saint-Saëns composed his Elegy No. 2, Op. 160 in 1915, during the final years of his life. The piece was premiered in Paris on January 23, 1916, with the composer himself at the piano. The Elegy No. 2 is a single-movement work that lasts approximately six minutes. It is written for solo piano and is characterized by its mournful and introspective mood. The piece is marked "Lento, molto espressivo" and begins with a simple, yet haunting melody in the right hand. The left hand provides a gentle accompaniment, with occasional bursts of arpeggios and chords. As the piece progresses, the melody becomes more complex and expressive, with the left hand providing a more prominent role in the accompaniment. The middle section of the piece features a more agitated and dissonant melody, which gradually builds in intensity before returning to the original theme. The Elegy No. 2 is a prime example of Saint-Saëns' late style, which is characterized by its simplicity, clarity, and emotional depth. The piece is a reflection of the composer's own mortality and the loss of many of his friends and colleagues during World War I. Overall, the Elegy No. 2, Op. 160 is a beautiful and poignant work that showcases Saint-Saëns' mastery of the piano and his ability to convey deep emotion through music.

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