Félicien David

Brises D'orient Reverie Do Majeur

The ANACROUSE collection offers novice and experienced pianists alike a wide choice of classical works, from the Renaissance to the modern era.

We have set ourselves the goal of offering both "must-haves" from the classical repertoire and pieces by sometimes forgotten composers, all of undeniable pedagogical value. Each piece, sold individually, has been the subject of careful editorial work, both in terms of the musical text and its engraving, in order to guarantee musicians the conditions essential to the pleasures derived from frequent trade in these works.

The scores are offered in the form of traditional works (paper sheets), and also available by download.



In 1836, the composer Félicien David published the "Mélodies orientales". They comprise a total of twenty-one pieces, eighteen of which were republished in 1845 under the title "Brises d'Orient" and three others under the title "Les Minarets".
On their release, these melodies were not a great success. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, a fire destroyed part of the stock of printed scores. On the other hand, the public, which had enjoyed the poet Victor Hugo's "Orientales" and the painter Eugène Delacroix's "Pestiférés de Jaffa", did not seem to be attracted by musical orientalism.
Les brises d'Orient possesses the power of rather gentle oriental charms. The composer wonderfully translates the oriental atmosphere by marking the rhythms with astonishing basses.
More than traditional forms, what should be retained from these pieces is the fact that they tell beautiful stories, always with a very successful dynamic of slow passages and lively, fast passages.
Felicien David's writing is not lacking in color. However, he makes no attempt to apply the exoticism of the Middle East. The melodies sing naturally through his pieces.
"Rêverie" reveals many surprises. The composer takes us on a restless journey where reverie rhymes with fearlessness. A melodic and rhythmic ride interrupted by off-beats and silences, leading us to discover changing and very different landscapes in the musical moment.