Franz Hitz: À La Belle Étoile (Ronde de Nuit), Op. 212
341 views · Published 31 March 2017 · 3:17 · Indexed 12 November 2026
Channel: PSearPianist · 2017 · Music
Phillip Sear plays a piece depicting a night patrol - 'Under the stars' - by the Swiss composer Franz Hitz (1828-91). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Swiss composer Franz (or Frantz) Hitz (1828-91) was born in Aarau in a German-speaking part of Switzerland, and died in Honfleur, France. He studied piano at the Paris Conservatoire, and had great success with his undemanding piano salon pieces (he also wrote a mass and light operas). He certainly had a good name for a successful musical career!. Many of his salon pieces reflect French rural life, although this one has a more urban feel. Pieces depicting military patrols (at night, at curfew, and at dawn) were popular in the 19th century. What I like about Hitz's pieces is that they never outstay their welcome, and are always lightly scored, so that they sound good on domestic pianos of limited size. The thumbnail shows a French night patrol at the Trianon at around the time of this piece (1876). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear http://www.psear.co.uk (Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: http://wa.me/441444483794 ) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pianogems
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