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Camille Saint-Saens
Saint-Saëns was born in Paris on October 9, 1835. He was one of the most intelligent musicians
ever, beginning piano lessons with his aunt at two-and-a-half and composing his first work at three. In
his academic studies, Saint-Saens showed a similar level of intelligence, learning languages and
advanced math with no difficulty.
In 1848, Saint-Saens entered the Paris Music Conservatory and studied organ and composition.
After composing two symphonies in his early twenties, Saint-Saens earned great respect from many
well-known composers.
In 1875, Saint-Saëns married the nineteen-year-old Marie Truffot, bringing on perhaps the
saddest chapter in his life. Saint-Saens and Marie had two children who died within six weeks of each
other, one from a four-story fall. For the latter death Saint-Saëns blamed his wife, and when they went
on vacation together in 1881 he simply disappeared one day. A separation order was granted, but they
never divorced. Oddly, this dark period in Saint-Saens’ life produced some of his most popular works,
including Danse macabre (1875) and Samson et Dalila (1878).
Danse Macabre is a tone poem, which is when music depicts a certain story or poem. In this
story, according to legend, "Death" appears at midnight every year on Halloween. Death calls forth the
dead from their graves to dance their dance of death for him while he plays his fiddle (represented by a
solo violin). His skeletons dance for him until the rooster crows at dawn, when they must return to their
graves until the next year. When Danse Macabre was first premiered, it was not received well by
audiences. Today though, it is used quite often as background music in tv and movies.
One of Saint-Saens’ most well-known works today is The Carnival of the Animals, which is a
musical suite of 14 movements all depicting different animals. After Saint-Saens composed this work,
he was concerned that many would not take him as a serious composer. Because of that, only one of the
14 movements was published during Saint-Saens’ life. He did, however, leave notes for the piece to
become published entirely after his death.
Saint-Saens spent his last years in Algiers, Algeria. In recognition of his accomplishments, the
government of France awarded him the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur. A street in Paris and in
Marseilles is named in his honor.
Saint-Saëns died of pneumonia on December 16, 1921 at the Hôtel de l'Oasis in Algiers.
1. Video: “Aquarium” from Carnival of the Animals– After watching this performance, list three
characteristics to help you easily remember the sounds of this piece (think about the road map – how it
starts, the middle, and how the piece ends):
a.
b.
c.
2.Why was Saint-Saens considered one of the most intelligent musicians ever?
3. What led to Saint-Saens obtaining respect from other well-known composers of the time?
4. Describe what happened leading up to Saint-Saens’ marriage falling apart.
5. Which two popular pieces were written by Saint-Saens during a difficult time in his life?
6. Which genre is Danse Macabre? Describe what the music is depicting.
7. Was Danse Macabre received well when it first premiered?
8. How many movements are in the Carnival of the Animals? What is depicted throughout the music?
9. Why was only one of the movements of Carnival of the Animals published during Saint-Saens’
lifetime? What instruction did he leave for when he died?
10. What was named after Saint-Saens in honor of him after he died?