Le tombeau de Louisa Paulin for alto, clarinet, cello and piano

"Le Tombeau de Louisa Paulin" was composed in 1972 in response to a proposal from the Stroud Festival International Composition Competition (England). The work was written for alto, oboe and strings. She won the First prize and was given in concert to Stroud in September 1972 by Meriel Dickinson, viola, and the members of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The first hearing was given in Paris in February 1973 at the "Maison de la Radio" with Janine Capderoux, viola and the Radio Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Jean Doussard. A second version for alto, clarinet, cello and piano was written in 1972. It was recorded in 1994 by Frédérique DeJoy, viola, Michel Lethiec, clarinet, Manfred Stilz, cello and the composer playing the piano, for the label "Empeinte digitale." The CD also includes "Ode à Jean de la Fontaine" and "Romances du Gai savoir". Louisa Paulin, poet and teacher from Albi (South of France) (1888-1944) wrote his poems and stories in French and Occitan language. "La colombe", last piece of the "Tombeau" had inspired to the composer in 1962 a song for voice and piano, published the same year in the review "Revue du Tarn" in Albi. By this melody including the work in an melancholy atmosphere, the prelude already contains elements, ensuring the unity of five songs with poetic and varied themes.