Klarinet Archive - Posting 000183.txt from 1998/02

From: Peter Randell <bardell@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: Wind Quintet and Milhaud...
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 1998 23:57:21 -0500

Lorne G. Buick wrote:
>
> > Actually, the french word "Cheminee" means of course chimney but it means
> > another thing: what the title of the Quintet means is "journey" or "pathway"
> > or "the road he took every day" (!!!). The "chimney" meaning here for that
> > word doesn't make any sense...
> >
> > Elizabeth
> > McGill University
>
> I have a memory of reading somewhere that this title referred to a specific
> geographical feature (a rock formation?) which King Rene visited... does
> anyone know the reference? Or am I making it up? (Being on the road I have
> nowhere to look it up at the moment)
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> LGB Lorne G Buick currently On the Road
> lgbuick@-----.net somewhere in the western USA

Lorne:- Late in replying to your request, as I had to hunt out a
"Air-Check" of a CBC broadcast with my WWQ, and refresh my memory! Here
is the announcers intro;
La Cheminee du Roi Rene, The Chimney of King Rene, by Darius Milhaud.
This music, as a matter of interest, was the only music written by
Milhaud for the film's, specifcally the film "Cavalcade d'Amour". The
film had a remarkably low budget, a phenomonon not peculiar only to
France, and the composer was allowed only five instruments! He consented
to score the film, because King Rene was one of the mediaeval rulers of
Milhaud's native Aix-en-Provence. The story of King Rene is one of a
shadowy, legendary, fairy tale character, although based on historical
fact. King Rene of Provence, who died in 1480, was perhaps the last of
the troubadour kings , a supporter of the Arts and much beloved by his
subjects. So revered was his memory, that a statue was erected, which
still stands, at the outcrop of rock called The Chimeny, where the King
had been fond of walking. To this place, over the centuries,his former
subjects have pilgrimage in the belief that at certain times the statue
comes down and talks about thier troubleswith anyone standing
nearby.---The titles of the seven parts of the Suite are
self-explanatory,and all carry thr fairy-tale quality of a day of
legend. The first is called Cortege, a sort of memorial tribute. The
second, Aubade, a Morning Serenade. The third Jongleurs, Juggler's. The
fourth La Mousinglade - the name of Milhaud's estate,then Chasse a
Valabre -the hunt at Valabre, and finally a Madrigal-Nocturne.
>> At the time the above was written, I was instructing at both Ottawa U and Carleton U, and I had access to both libraries and that is where I obtained my research [I think!] - it was many years ago. Hope the above will be useful to you, and that your great tour of the Colonies is going well. Regards, Peter Randell.