Music TheoryPrint

Camille Saint-Saëns

Suite algérienne

The Suite algérienne in C major, Op. 60 is a composition by Camille Saint-Saëns in four movements. The composer had a lifetime love for Algeria. In 1873, he visited it for the first time. The theme

Music#

The work is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns (2 natural, 2 valved), 2 trumpets (valved), 2 cornets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, triangle, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum and strings. The work is written in four movements. Each of the movements has a program.

Recordings#

  • Saint-Saëns recorded movements 3 & 4 in a piano arrangement.
  • Released on Naxos 8.112054.

LPs#

  • (1950s) Orchestre national de la radiodiffusion française, Louis Fourestier. — Pathé 33 DTZX 126 Artistique.
  • (rel. 1956) L’Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux, Jean Fournet. — Philips N 00703 R (Minigroove).
  • (rel. 2004) CD reissue: EMI Classics 585210.
  • (rel. 1976) Frankenland State Symphony Orchestra, George Barati. — Lyrichord LLST 7103.
  • (rel. 1991) Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek - Supraphon 11 0971-1 031.

CDs#

  • (rel. 1988) London Symphony Orchestra, Yondani Butt. — ASV Records CDDCA599.
  • (rel. 1990) Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek. — Supraphon 11 0971-2.
  • (rel. 1994) Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, David Robertson. — Valois Records 4688.
  • (rec. 1999, rel. 2000) Swiss Italian Orchestra, Francis Travis. — Chandos Records CHAN 9837.
  • (rel. 2007) Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, Marco Guidarini. — Talent Records 106.

For piano 4-hands by Gabriel Faure#

*(rec. 2004, rel. 2005) Tomas Daukantas and Vilija Poskute. — Ars Produktion 38008.

Sources#

    • Edward Blakeman. Booklet comments on CHAN 9837.
Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns