Ancient Hunter

Eight pieces for Piano inspired by poems by Tristan Klingsor for Mesdemoiselles Jacqueline and Lucienne Rouché. Transcribed from the original work for Piano solo (1911). 1. Les MarionnettesA marionette is a string-operated puppet. Popular from as far back as Ancient Greece and increasingly the focus of entertainment during the Middle Ages and Renaissance period it has been proposed that the art of puppetry was the logical precursor to the appearance of live actors in the theatre. Stravinsky's ground-breaking ballet Petrushka which was completed in 1911 (the same year as Grovlez's L'Almanach incidentally) undoubtedly remains thebest-known evocation of a puppet. 2. Berceuse de la Poupée'Lullaby for a doll' though a seemingly improbable starting point for a musical work functions beautifully next to the marionettes in Grovlez's magical image-rich world though I detect something faintly subversive bubbling under the surface of this sublime melody. 3. La SarabandeThe 'Sarabande' is a stately dance in triple-time with a characteristic gentle emphasis on the second beat and was apparently first referenced in print in Central America during the 16th century (zarabanda). It rapidly grew in popularity over successive centuries especially within the Spanish colonies – and of course in Spain itself – where its reputation as having being 'invented in hell' (according to Cervantes) assured it a place in dance suites from Bach's time onwards. 4. Chanson du Chasseur'Hunter's Song' is a rollicking rum-tee-tum piece of great insouciance and swagger. The 6/8 rhythms and horn-like proclamations ride delightfully roughshod throughout the music. 5. Les Ânes'The Donkeys'. I presume Eee-orrr has the same connotation in French! – moreover the comical spirit of the music is not so far removed from Ibert's famous Le Petit Âne Blanc (Avec une tranquille