Cécile Chaminade Essentials

Between its florid, romantic gestures and its languid phrasing, the music of Cécile Chaminade feels undeniably French. Her knack for inspired, lighthearted melodies can be seen in songs like “Berceuse” and “Mignonne”; conversely, her Piano Sonata in C Minor evokes the tempestuousness of 19th-century piano titans like Liszt and Schumann. An outstanding pianist herself, Chaminade's impressive command of texture and rhythm yielded marvelously enjoyable works such as “Pierrette” and the seriously nimble “Toccata.”