Sydney Smith: Chanson Russe, Romance Op. 31

Sydney Smith (1839-89) was one of the most celebrated British composers of salon music, and studied under Moscheles at the Leipsig Conservatory. For more information on the man and his scores, see:
http://www.sydneysmitharchive.org.uk/smitharchive.html

I suspect that Smith's point of reference in writing this piece (c1863) was the work of Anton Rubinstein, because the second part of the introduction to the romance is quite similar to the theme of the central section of Rubinstein's 'Le Rêve" (Op. 10 No. 22). I am particularly pleased to bring some Smith to YouTube because of a family connection - my great-great-great aunt, Hannah Birch, was Smith's second wife, and the mother of his children!
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Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sydney
• Smith
• Chanson
• Russe
• russian
• song
• piano
• classical
• salon

[Claudinahorevicht]

WONDERFUL!!!!!! BRAVO, MAESTRO, BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

[PSearPianist]

@Claudinahorevicht Thank you!

[MrRad999]

Thanks for posting this song. It is my favorite classical piece. I grew up listening to my mother playing it on a black grand. It is really a sad song!

[PSearPianist]

@MrRad999 Thank you very much. I am pleased that it is still popular. If I am honest, the reason I recorded this piece rather than so many others by Smith is that it has manageable page turns.

[paopaomanalansan]

Very beautiful, reminiscent of Chopin's ballade...

[PSearPianist]

@paopaomanalansan I'm sure the composer would have been flattered to hear that!

[TheKeyzebron]

@Fanze Its the 1st time i've heard about salon music. And I too am fascinated :D. really like it. SALON MUSIC IS GREAT!!! :)

[PSearPianist]

@epeeista07 It's a pleasure!

[epeeista07]

Hi! thank you for posting this vid!! :)

[PSearPianist]

Thank you! If you like Sydney Smith you should have a look at the Sydney Smith Archive site (do a Google search) and you will then be able to download most of his scores. Actually, despite my family connection, I have played little of his music here, largely because the scores were mostly published with impossible page turns!