Pierné Sheet Music and Biography
Gabriel Pierné (born Henri Constant Gabriel Pierné on 16 August 1863) was a French composer, organist, and conductor of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
We have Pierné sheet music for Viennoise Suite de Valses et Cortege Blues on our site.
Early Life and Career
Pierné showed talent from an early age probably inheriting his musical genes from his parents. His father was a teacher at the Metz Conservatoire and his mother a piano teacher.
As a result of the Franco-Russian War Pierné’s family moved to Paris. Consequently, this gave Pierné the opportunity to study at the Paris Conservatoire between 1871 and 1882. During his time there he met with Claude Debussy. His teachers included César Franck and Jules Massenet. He earned medals for solfège, piano, counterpoint, fugue, and organ all culminating him being awarded the Prix de Rome in 1882 for his cantata ‘Edith’.
Pierné superseded his old teacher César Franck as organist at St. Clotilde cathedral in 1890. Considering he was only twenty-seven at the time this was considered quite an achievement. He held this post until 1898 choosing to concentrate on composing and conducting.
In 1903 he became assistant conductor of the Concerts Colonne, seven years later he became the principal conductor a position he held until his death. This position provided him with the experience and opportunities to become a well-known conductor and composer.
In addition to his conducting he was a member of the directing committee of studies at the Paris Conservatoire and also produced compositions for the Ballet Russes. One of his famous performances there was Igor Stravinsky’s ‘The Firebird’.
In 1925 Pierné received an appointment to the Académie des Beaux Arts. Following this he became Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur.
Pierné died in Ploujean on 17 July 1937. His body, however, is laid to rest at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Le Place Gabriel Pierné in Paris bears his name along with many restaurants there.
Pierné Sheet Music Downloads and Further Reading
On music-scores.com we have a selection of arrangements of Pierné sheet music including Viennoise six waltzes and the Cortege Blues all in PDF format for you to download.
For further reading on this composer take a look at Wikipedia and AllMusic.
