Hüe, Georges

Hüe, Georges – Ballet Music from the opera ‘Le Miracle’

(b. Versailles, May 6, 1858 – d. Paris, June 7, 1948)

(1910)

Escholiers et Ribaudes p.1
Danse et L’Ours avec Varaitions p.33
1e Variation p.42
2e Variation p.51
3e Variation p.62
4e Variation p.75
Ronde Populaire p. 86

Basic Biography and Musical Style

Georges Hüe lived through one of the most unique and diverse periods of world history. A young man during the Franco-Prussian war, he then lived through and survived the ensuing World Wars. As a composer, Hüe was active during the belle époque when the music of Jules Massenet reigned on the operatic stage and when the spirit of Richard Wagner was still a force to be reckoned with. But his musical life also witnessed such diverse careers as those of Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, and Arnold Schoenberg.

Hüe was born in Versailles. His father was a talented architect whose uncle Hector-Marin Lefuel (1810-1880) is best remembered today for his renovations of the Louvre and Tuileries during Napoleon III’s expansions.1 As a child Hüe’s mother taught him piano and during that time, and without any formal studies of harmony and counterpoint, he composed his first piano piece, the “Cobourg Mazurka.” According to a famous anecdote which has often been retold, Hüe’s grandmother took her young grandson and his composition to the world famous composer, Charles Gounod (1818-1893). As the account continues, the benevolent composer looked quickly over the work, “Then, solemn but clear-sighted, he embraced the young man, and he extended an arm as if he were giving him a pontifical blessing; however, he did not forget to encourage him to work with a good harmony teacher. He pointed out Paladilhe to him… Your mazurka, Paladilhe immediately declared, but it is nothing, and you have everything to learn. The high school student, a little disappointed, readily agreed, and he began to work under the direction of Paladilhe.”

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