Berceuse

The smallest yet perhaps most perfect of Fauré’s standalone pieces for violin and piano, the Berceuse has been a favourite among violinists ever since its creation. It’s sometimes mixed up with the “Berceuse” from Dolly Suite for piano duet, but the two aren’t related. The gently rocking rhythm of the accompaniment goes right through the piece, while the violin sings its cradle song above, muted throughout. The harmonic language appears straightforward on the surface, yet it is full of subtle beauties, with surprising sidesteps and heart-stopping twists and turns. It was first performed at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris on 14 February 1880 by the violinist Ovide Musin, with Fauré himself at the piano; the orchestral version followed two months later. The piece’s popularity seems to have surprised Fauré, but it secured him a publishing contract with Julien Hamelle which lasted for some 20 years.