An analysis of three French piano quartets of the 1870s: Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Quartet, Op. 41, Gabriel Fauré Piano Quartet, Op. 15, and Vincent d'Indy Piano Quartet, Op. 7

Abstract

The 1870s was a time when numerous French composers turned their attention to chamber works and other instrumental music. While the 1870s hold historical significance for French chamber music, little scholarship exists that examines the music of the time analytically.

In order to augment the analytical literature of late nineteenth-century French chamber music, this study provides analyses and a brief comparison of three piano quartets from the 1870s: Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 41, Gabriel Fauré's Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 15, and Vincent d'Indy's Piano Quartet in A Minor, Op. 7.

After presenting a review of the available analytical literature on the chamber music from each composer, this study explores the historical and musical climate of France in the mid-nineteenth century and each composer's biography through the 1870s. Each quartet receives a separate analysis by movement, focusing on formal traits and compositional style. No one analytical method is applied. Instead, various techniques are utilized which highlight certain interesting or unique traits about each work. The study concludes with a comparison of the three quartets with special emphasis paid to instrumentation, formal traits, and harmony.

In addition to amplifying the available analytical literature of late nineteenth-century French chamber music, this document may serve as a performance and study resource for teachers and performers alike.