Charles Gounod
Biography
Charles Gounod (17 June 1818, Paris - 18 October 1893 in Saint-Cloud) was a French composer
His father was a painter and his mother a pianist. During his youth he studied harmony and counterpoint with Antoine Reicha and eventually studied at the Paris Conservatory. In 1837 Gounod finished in second place for the Prix de Rome but won the award two years later. This prize allowed him to study for two years in Rome as well as Austria and Germany. During this time he met Mendelssohn who would influence him compositionally. In 1843 his mother arranged for Charles to work at a church. Through out the early part of his life he debated entering the priesthood. His music gained prominence in the 1850s through opera commissions. Gounod's most influential works include his numerous masses, the opera Faust (1859), and the piano piece Funeral March of a Marionette (1873).
Works for Winds
Adaptable Music
- Funeral March of a Marionette (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1872/2008)
All Wind Works
- Ah! Je Veux Vivre from "Romeo and Juliet" (tr. Odom) (1867)
- Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) (arr. Lovrien) (1853/2004)
- Ballet Music from "Faust" (arr. Godfrey) (1859/1918)
- Festive Dance from "Faust" (arr. Glover) (1859/2003)
- Funeral March of a Marionette (arr. Squires) (1872/2001)
- Funeral March of a Marionette (transposed Brackett) (1872/2004)
- Funeral March of a Marionette (arr. Lake) (1872/1927)
- Funeral March of a Marionette (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Marlatt) (1872/2008)
- La Reine de Saba (1862)
- Petite Symphonie (1885)
- Petite Symphonie (arr. Fennell) (1885/1985)
- Petite Symphonie (arr. Xin Su) (1885/2021)
- Trois Rag-Caprices (arr. De Meij) (1922/1994)
Resources
- Steven Huebner. "Gounod, Charles-François." In Grove Music Online.
- Oxford Music Online (accessed September 6, 2010).