Salon Morisot: Majesty
The Harbor at Lorient 1869 by Berthe Morisot (the inspiration behind “Majesty”)
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Salon Morisot is a suite of three miniatures that are inspired by the remarkable artistry of little known female French impressionist artist, Berthe Morisot (1841-1895). Morisot was highly admired by her fellow Impressionist colleagues and her works were exhibited in the very first (and many consequential) Impressionist ‘Salon’ of 1874 (a Salon being an exhibition). Many famous artists held an original Morisot artwork in their private collections including Manet, Monet, Degas and Pissarro. Morisot married Édouard Manet’s younger brother Eugene Manet and her painting styles are regarded as a driving force behind the Impressionist style. The three miniatures in this program are inspired by three Morisot artworks that depict a particular period in her life.
I. Majesty: inspired by the painting ‘The Harbor at Lorient’ (1869).
The Harbor at Lorient" features Morisot’s sister Edma and tall ships. Edma and her sister were very close. She had not long been married and they missed each other terribly. Hence, I have attempted to capture not only the grandeur of the tall ships but to also reveal the despair and heartbreak felt by both sisters at this time. It is my desire that the harmonic tensions reveal their hidden emotions whilst maintaining an element of calm on the surface.
INSTRUMENTATION: please see perusal score above.
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This work was commissioned by Clarkston Schools Instrumental Music Association in recognition of Shelley Schwaderer Roland's many years of dedication to the Clarkston School Music Program and the University of Wisconsin (Eau Claire), Director of Bands, Dr. John Stewart.