Henri Kowalski: Sérénade indienne, Op.38

Phillip Sear plays a very cool serenade, published in 1882, by the French pianist and composer, Henri Kowalski (1841–1916).
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Kowalski, of Polish and Irish descent, studied under Marmontel at the Paris Conservatoire. From 1880, he spent ten years in Australia, and there is a fascinating article about his sojourn and his work generally here: tinyurl.com/ydaalj65 . He had a huge international hit with his 'Marche Hongroise'.

This most attractive piece has a Fauré-like spaciousness, and some of the harmonic sequences give it a contemporary feel. I've no idea whether Kowalski wrote this in Australia and sent it back by sea to be published in France, or whether it was written before he went.

The piece is dedicated to Madame Louise Kowalska, who I take to be his wife, the former actress Maria Louise Eloy.

Thumbnail image generated by Gemini (within Google Slides).
#frenchmusic #serenade
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Played by Phillip Sear
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