University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

A la Française

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/982b7be0-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-5

The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions

Descriptive Information

Title
A la Française  
Alternative Title
Cover, top; p. 2, top: A la Française / Marche Patriotique  
Composer
Picazo, Miguel  
Lyricist
Milandy, Georges [pseudonym of Maurice Nouhaud]  
Publisher
  • Paris 8me  
  • 4, Rue Chauveau-Lagarde, 4  
  • Paris : Gustave Legouix  
Year of Publication
1916  
Date of Copyright
1916-02-23
Physical Description
1 score, piano solo ([1],2-7, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Comment
This version of Picazo’s music is for piano solo, without lyrics. There is no evidence that this composition ever attained any degree of popularity in the United States; its reception in France is difficult to assess, but there are few surviving copies.
Historical Note
  • There are no recordings or piano rolls.  
  • General Joseph Joffre commanded the French forces from the start of the War and was celebrated for his leadership at the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914. He was officially made Commander-in-chief of the French army on December 2, 1915, and it seems likely that Picazo composed his march in response. The cover photograph is of Joffre in ceremonial dress, as would have been appropriate for his appointment.   
  • Picazo’s music was issued in several versions simultaneously, some of which were listed on p. 2; the same cover design appears on all, but different plates were used for the interiors. The version for voice and piano was used for copyright deposits in France and the United States, but details of the lyric suggest that the piano solo was written first (as was the case for the title advertised on the back cover).  
Musical Note
This virtuosic march was probably intended as concert repertoire, as is suggested by the opus number, the length, and the extensive expressive markings. To make it playable by less accomplished pianists, a sentence at the bottom of pp. 2 and 7 reads “Pour simplifier ne pas faire les octaves.” The form is somewhat unusual: an introduction is followed by march and trio in the subdominant; then, after a short modulation back to the original key, there is an altogether new strain; the piece then modulates again to the subdominant and presents the introduction, a bridge, and the trio. A coda returns to the original tonic and presents the introductory material again, with cadential extensions. Throughout there is extensive use of walking bass, chromatic inflections, and fanfare figures.
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • Joffre, Joseph Jacques Césaire, 1852-1931.  
  • Marches (Piano)  
  • Soldiers -- France -- Pictorial works.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
France  
Musical Genre
March
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Artist
Clérice Frères  
Printer
  • 12, Rue Martel  
  • E. Dupré  
Cover Description
Troops charging across a battlefield, bearing a tattered French flag; barbed-wire fence in foreground, clouds of smoke in background; in front of all, an unattributed inset photograph of General Joffe. Orange, red, blue and black on white; signed BR.  
Back Cover Description
Sample: Les pleurs que nous versons (© 1914 05 30), with photographic portrait of Miguel Picazo.  
Performance Medium
piano solo  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_073  
Collection Title
James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleA la Française  
Alternative TitleCover, top; p. 2, top: A la Française / Marche Patriotique  
ComposerPicazo, Miguel  
LyricistMilandy, Georges [pseudonym of Maurice Nouhaud]  
Publisher
  • Paris 8me  
  • 4, Rue Chauveau-Lagarde, 4  
  • Paris : Gustave Legouix  
Year of Publication1916  
Date of Copyright1916-02-23
Physical Description1 score, piano solo ([1],2-7, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
CommentThis version of Picazo’s music is for piano solo, without lyrics. There is no evidence that this composition ever attained any degree of popularity in the United States; its reception in France is difficult to assess, but there are few surviving copies.
Historical Note
  • There are no recordings or piano rolls.  
  • General Joseph Joffre commanded the French forces from the start of the War and was celebrated for his leadership at the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914. He was officially made Commander-in-chief of the French army on December 2, 1915, and it seems likely that Picazo composed his march in response. The cover photograph is of Joffre in ceremonial dress, as would have been appropriate for his appointment.   
  • Picazo’s music was issued in several versions simultaneously, some of which were listed on p. 2; the same cover design appears on all, but different plates were used for the interiors. The version for voice and piano was used for copyright deposits in France and the United States, but details of the lyric suggest that the piano solo was written first (as was the case for the title advertised on the back cover).  
Musical NoteThis virtuosic march was probably intended as concert repertoire, as is suggested by the opus number, the length, and the extensive expressive markings. To make it playable by less accomplished pianists, a sentence at the bottom of pp. 2 and 7 reads “Pour simplifier ne pas faire les octaves.” The form is somewhat unusual: an introduction is followed by march and trio in the subdominant; then, after a short modulation back to the original key, there is an altogether new strain; the piece then modulates again to the subdominant and presents the introduction, a bridge, and the trio. A coda returns to the original tonic and presents the introductory material again, with cadential extensions. Throughout there is extensive use of walking bass, chromatic inflections, and fanfare figures.
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • Joffre, Joseph Jacques Césaire, 1852-1931.  
  • Marches (Piano)  
  • Soldiers -- France -- Pictorial works.  
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicFrance  
Musical GenreMarch
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsThe Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
ArtistClérice Frères  
Printer
  • 12, Rue Martel  
  • E. Dupré  
Cover DescriptionTroops charging across a battlefield, bearing a tattered French flag; barbed-wire fence in foreground, clouds of smoke in background; in front of all, an unattributed inset photograph of General Joffe. Orange, red, blue and black on white; signed BR.  
Back Cover DescriptionSample: Les pleurs que nous versons (© 1914 05 30), with photographic portrait of Miguel Picazo.  
Performance Mediumpiano solo  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_073  
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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