FERROUD, Pierre-Octave
Symphonie en la
Paris, Durand, 1931
4to, hardcover, gilt title to spine, 122 pp.; nice copy, slight wear to spine ends
First edition. Pierre-Octave Ferroud (1900-1936) was a French composer who quickly established himself as one of the most gifted creators of his generation. He also wrote as a music critic for Le Soir and with his ensemble Triton he introduced much contemporary music to international audiences. Symphonie en la, commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, premiered in Paris on March 8, 1931, under the direction of Pierre Monteux. It represents one of the most powerful sound architectures of the interwar period. Despite a life cut short by an automobile accident, he leaves a body of work that touches all genres with equal success.
Presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Ferroud to the American conductor Jascha Horenstein (1898-1973). Horenstein was heralded for his conducting of modern music, particularly Mahler, though he conducted in a variety of genres throughout his career.
