Danse Bretonne (Allegro moderato e scherzando)

Paul Ladmirault (1877-1944) was a leading Breton composer, who having written and had staged an opera at age 16. studied composition with Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire (Ravel was a contemporary there). During the First World War, Ladmirault was a stretcher-bearer on the Western Front. From 1920 he was a professor at the conservatoire in Nantes (his birthplace). He was not a prolific composer for piano, and most of his larger scale works are for orchestra or chamber combinations. This most attractive piece comes from a set of two Breton dances. I have used a 1927 British edition of one of the pieces. The economy of the writing is admirable, and the slight modal feel reminds me of the prevailing style of French organ music of the period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear http://www.psear.co.uk