Pastorale d'été, symphonic poem for chamber orchestra, H. 31

• Date: 1920
• Composer: Arthur Honegger
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

Arthur Honegger was one of the more prominent members of Les Six and this composition was one of his earliest successes. It would not create the sensation caused by the 1924 premiere of his Pacific 231, of course, but Pastorale d'été did receive a Prix Verley by the audience, who, as part of their concert-series duties, rated new works after their premieres. Subtitled, "Poème symphonique" and prefaced in the score with the words, "I have embraced the summer's red of morn," the work is scored for a chamber-sized ensemble consisting of strings, single woodwinds, and horn. It opens with a lovely, languorously soaring theme first given to the horn, then taken up by the strings. The instrumentation -- especially for the horn, flute, and clarinet -- is quite simple, but perfectly matched to the pastoral nature of the theme and overall mood in the outer sections. The middle section is lively, full of playful mischief, and colorfully orchestrated. The main theme returns to close the piece in the same peaceful, Romantic manner of the opening. Pastorale d'été lasts eight to ten minutes in a typical performance. ~ Robert Cummings, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
20th Century French Masterpieces	1998
Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vol. 1 (1935-1950) [Box Set]	2002
Arhur Honegger: Pacific 231	1996
Arhur Honegger: Pacific 231	1996
Arthur Honegger: Symphonies; Mouvements Symphoniques	2000
Classical Chillout	2005
Classical Dreams: Music to Inspire	2001
Composers In Person [Box Set]	2008
Cosmic Music: Meeting Angels Through Sound & Music	1997
French Orchestral Music: Chausson, Fauré, Honegger
Honegger
Honegger Conducts Honegger
Honegger Conducts Honegger	2006
Honegger and Milhaud Conduct Their Own Music
Honegger: Le Roi David; Monopartita	2005
Honegger: Orchestral Works	1999
Honegger: Pacific 231; Stravinsky: Pétrouchka	2001
Honegger: Pastorale d'été H31; Nocturne H102
Honegger: Pastorale d'été; Symphony No. 4; Une Cantate de Noël	2011
Honegger: Prelude; Pastorale d'Été; Poème Symphonique; Horace Victorieux	2007
Honegger: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5; Le Chant de Nigamon; Pastorale d'Été	1998
Honegger: Symphony No. 3 ("Liturgique"), etc.	2004
Honegger: Symphony No. 4; Pastoral d'été; Prélude, Arioso et Fughette; Concertino	1991
Honegger: Symphony No.1/Pastorale/Pacific 231/Rugby/Symphony No.3
Honegger: Symphony No2; Pastorale d'été H31
Jean Cocteau and Les Six: Once Upon a Time	2008
Maestro Avanzato (Box Set)	2003
Maestro Avanzato: Debussy, Chabrier, Ravel, De Falla, Honegger	2003
Music Of The Zodiac: Taurus	1996
Richard Strauss: Der Bürger als Edelmann; Streichsextett aus Capriccio; Metamorphosen	2001
Simply Summer	2006
The Four Seasons: A Musical Calendar of Favourite Classics	2003
Tribute to Charles Munch (Box Set)	1998
Un Hommage a Charles Munch

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