Paul Lacombe

Paul Lacombe (11 July 1837 – 4 June 1927) was a Languedocien (French) composer and pianist.

Biography Paul Lacombe was born in Carcassonne into a wealthy family of linen merchants. Initial music lessons were at the piano with his mother and he later studied voice, fugue, harmony and counterpoint with François Teysseyre (1821–1887), an alumnus of the Conservatoire de Paris who opened the first music school in Carcassonne in 1851.

Lacombe was an admirer of the music of Georges Bizet, particularly the opera The Pearl Fishers. In 1866 he began a correspondence with Bizet and asked him to help with his composition. Bizet accepted, and for two years, from 1866 to 1868, compositional advice and corrections were exchanged via post. A real friendship developed between the two as Bizet realized the enthusiasm of his student. His compositional style presents, aside from its clean and solid craftsmanship, an amiable and appealing character, but with no particular originality.

In 1901, Lacombe was appointed under the sponsorship of Camille Saint-Saëns to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, who awarded him the Prix Chartier for his chamber music in 1887. He was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1902. Some of Lacôme's scores, including in operettas La fille de l'air and Les quatre filles Aymon, were published as composed by "Paul Lacombe".

Selected works Symphonies Symphony No. 1 in B minor, Op. 30 (1879); awarded Prix de la Société des compositeurs in 1879 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 34 (1882) Symphony No. 3 in A, Op. 48 (1887); awarded Prix de la Société des compositeurs in 1887 Orchestral Ouverture symphonique, Op. 22 (1876) Suite pastorale, Op. 31 (1878) Ouverture dramatique Aubade printanière, Op. 37 (1884) Sérénade catalane, Op. 39 (published 1890) Intermède-Gavotte, Op. 43 (1880) Ronde languedocienne for chamber orchestra, Op. 44 (1884); also for piano Sérénade d'automne for string orchestra, Op. 47 (1887) Scène au camp, Op. 49 (1886) Marche élégiaque, Op. 50 (1892) Parade hongroise, Op. 53 (1892); also for piano Promenade sous bois, Op. 54 (1892); also for piano Aubade aux mariés, Op. 56 (1892) Chanson gasconne, Op. 60 (1893); also for piano Sous le balcon (Beneath the Balcony), Sérénade for chamber orchestra, Op. 62 (1893) Printemps joyeux, Op. 67; also for piano Ballade: Impressions d'avril (1895) Intermède for string orchestra, Op. 74 (1895) Sous les étoiles, Marche-Nocturne for chamber orchestra, Op. 78 (1896); also for piano Rapsodie sur des airs du pays d'Oc in E major, Op. 128 (1906) Dernière aubade, Op. 137 (1910); also for piano Marche dernière, Op. 150 (1918) Dialogue sentimental, Op. 151 (1917); also for piano Cortège religieux in E major

Concertante Concerto for horn and orchestra (c. 1875?) Divertissement for piano and orchestra, Op. 40 (1885); awarded Prix de la Société des compositeurs in 1885 Sérénade d'automne for flute, oboe, string orchestra and horn (ad libitum), Op. 47 (1891) Rapsodie for violin and orchestra, Op. 51 (1891); also for violin and piano Suite for piano and orchestra, Op. 52 (1896) L'amour for cello and chamber orchestra, Op. 77 Concerto en ré for piano and orchestra Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra

Chamber music Sonata No. 1 in A minor for violin and piano, Op. 8 (1868) 3 Morceaux de fantaisie for cello and piano, Op. 10 Piano Trio No. 1 in G major, Op. 12 (1870) 4 Morceaux for violin and piano, Op. 14 Sonata No. 2 in F minor for violin and piano, Op. 17 (c.1873) 3 Airs de ballet for violin or cello and piano Rapsodie for violin and piano (or orchestra), Op. 51 (1891) Berceuse for violin and piano, Op. 77 (1895) Suite No. 2, 4 Morceaux for violin and piano, Op. 88 (1897) Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 90 (1898) Sérénade humoristique, Trio for violin, cello and piano, Op. 93 (1898) Sonata No. 3 for violin and piano, Op. 98 Sonata for cello and piano, Op. 100 (1902) Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 101 (1904) 6 Pièces for violin and piano, Op. 107 Méditation for violin and piano, Op. 124 (1906) Aubade à Ninon for violin and piano, Op. 125 Morceau de fantaisie in D major for viola and piano, Op. 133 (1909) Piano Trio No. 3 in A minor, Op. 134 (1909) Chanson d'Espagne for cello and piano, Op. 142

Piano Remembrance, Op. 3 Absence et retour, 2 Romances sans paroles, Op. 5 5 Morceaux caractéristiques, Op. 7 (1966) 4 Pièces for piano 4-hands, Op. 9 (1869) 2 Idylles: Caprice chromatique et gavotte, Op. 11 (1869) Nocturne et Impromptu, Op. 13 Suite No. 1 in A minor, Op. 15 Arabesques, Op. 16 Études en forme de variations, Op. 18 (1875) Caprice-Polka in E major, Op. 21 (1876) 5 Feuilles d'album, Op. 23 (1876) Ballade, Op. 24 2 Impromptus, Op. 26 Aquarelles, 4 Pièces faciles, Op. 27 Esquisses et souvenirs, Fantaisies en forme de valses, Op. 28 (1878) Élégies, Op. 32 6 Études, Op. 33 (1880) 3 Airs de ballet, Op. 35 Nocturne et valse lent, Op. 36 Aubade printanière, Op. 37 (1884); also orchestrated Intermède de concert, Op. 38 (1887) Valse, Op. 41 Ronde languedocienne, Op. 44 (1884); also orchestrated Impromptu No. 4, Op. 46 Marche élégiaque, Op. 50 Parade hongroise, Op. 53 (1892); also orchestrated Promenade sous bois in F major, Op. 54 (1892); also orchestrated Laendler, Op. 55 Intimités, Op. 57 Chanson gasconne, Op. 60 (1893); also orchestrated 2 Valses, Op. 61 Suite No. 2, Op. 64 (1894) Printemps joyeux, Op. 67; also orchestrated Impromptu No. 5, Op. 71 Danse basque à cinq temps, Op. 72 (1895) 2 Pièces, Op. 74 (1895) Sous les étoiles, Marche-nocturne, Op. 78 (1896); also orchestrated Pages improvisées, Op. 79 (1896) Suite No. 3, Op. 80 (1896) Promenade matinale, Op. 81 (1896) Toccatina in A major, Op. 85 (1897) Adoration, Op. 86 Valse, Op. 91 Valse humoresque, Op. 95 (1898) Vieux airs (1899) Petite valse, Op. 102 (1900) Prélude et étude de concert, Op. 105 (1903) 4 Études à Francis Planté, Op. 109 (1903) Danse d'Aïnhara, Airs du pays basque, Op. 110 Feuilles volantes, Pièces brèves, Op. 112 (1904) 6 Morceaux de danse en forme de mazurka, Op. 114 (1905) Impromptu No. 6, Op. 118 Suite de valses, Op. 120 (1906) 2 Romances sans paroles, Op. 126 Aria et sarabande, Op. 130 Dernière aubade, Op. 137 (1910); also orchestrated Petits préludes, Op. 140 (1911) Marche dernière, Op. 150 (1917) Dialogue sentimental, Op. 151 (1917); also orchestrated Impromptu No. 7 Petite suite (1921)

Vocal Les crépuscules for voice and piano; words by Charles Fuster (1866–1929) Bruyère jolie for voice and piano (1894); words by J. Dejean Les ailes du rêve for voice and piano (1897); words by Charles Fuster La chanson des cigales, Petits poèmes chantés for 3 female voices; words by Marguerite de Baure Nuit d'été, Duo for soprano and mezzo-soprano (1902); words by Marguerite de Baure Aubade for voice and piano; words by Jean Lahor Aubade printanière for voice and piano

Recordings Aurore: Dialogue Sentimental, op. 151. Da Vinci Classics C00517 (2022) Lalo, Lacombe & Tombelle: Cello Sonatas: Cello Sonata in A major. Atma Classique ACD22873 (2022) Thomas Jensen Legacy, Vol. 7: Aubade printanière, op. 37. Danacord DACOCD917 (2022) Piano Trios: No. 1 in G, op. 12; No. 2 in E, op. 90; No. 3 in A, op. 134; Méditation pour violon et piano, op. 124. Dutton Epoch CDLX7388 (2021) Chamber Music: Piano Quartet in C minor, op. 101 (1904); Cello Sonata in A major, op. 100; Violin Sonata No 3 in G major, op. 98. Dutton Epoch CDLX7397 (2022) Orchestral Works: Rapsodie sur des airs du Pays d’Oc, op. 128; Suite for piano and orchestra, op. 52; Concerto for horn and orchestra; Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 34. Dutton Epoch CDLX7413 (2024)