Franck, César. (1822–1890) [Monteux, Pierre. (1875–1964)]
Psyché: Poëme Symphonique - Monteux's Score With His Markings
Paris: Le Bailly, O. Bornemann, succr.. 1900. Orchestral score to César Franck's 1887 symphonic poem Psyché, used by the great conductor Pierre Monteux and with his stamps and markings throughout. 62 pp., lacking cover. Stamped six times on five pages with Monteux's autograph stamp in blue ink. With markings on eight pages, including: instrument names underlined, crossed out, or added; timings added at the end of movements; fermatas; one corrected note (p. 62); and one note about tacets and instrumentation (p. 22.) 10.75 x 13.75 inches (27.5 x 35 cm). From the estate of Monteux's daughter, Nancie Monteux Barendse. In heavily used condition, spine reinforced with tape and cloth tape but heavily chipped, some past water damage to the edges, several small tape reinforcements throughout, and some chipping to the final page.Monteux performed this rather seldom-heard work as guest conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1928, and also recorded two excerpts from the piece in a live recording with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in December 1944.
One of the composer's "most ambitious works, Psyché -- a vast "symphonic poem" for chorus and orchestra in seven movements -- was composed in secret in his vacation retreat at Combs-la-Ville-Quincy over the summer of 1886. To his friend and pupil, the composer Arthur Coquard, he confided that Psyché had been contemplated over "many years," though the progress of the composition is noted on the manuscript with a compulsive punctilio -- e.g., "'Les jardins d'Éros,' 18 August, (4 o'clock)." Orchestration was accomplished the following summer....Psyché's premiere, at a concert of the Société National de Musique on March 10, 1888, disconcerted listeners and provoked controversy, with the dedicatee, d'Indy, insisting that the music was an allegory of the love of God, and others -- not least, the composer's family -- hearing in it an execrable carnality. As Nietzsche noted, "The degree and kind of a man's sexuality reach up into the ultimate pinnacle of his spirit." Largely neglected, Psyché looms as Franck's most revealing testament." (Adrian Corleonis, Allmusic.com) (13793)
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