Félix Battanchon

Félix Battanchon (9 April 1814 – 1893) was a French cellist, composer, and one of the venerated teachers at the Paris Conservatory. He studied at the Paris Conservatory with Olive Charlier Vaslin (1794-1889) and Louis Pierre Martin Norblin (1781-1854).^[1] In 1840 he entered the orchestra of the Grand Opéra. He applied for second teacher of cello in 1851.^[2] Little is known about his life until his death in Paris in 1893.^[1]

Selected works

Battanchon wrote some sixty compositions, mainly salon pieces and studies for cello.

Orchestral

• An-Ini-Goz, Fantaisie caractéristique sur des airs bretons in D minor for 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass, Op. 14
• Ronde des veilleurs de nuit for chamber orchestra, Op. 48 (1885)

Concertante

• Concerto No. 1 in E minor for cello and orchestra, Op. 20
• Caprice in E minor for cello and orchestra (or piano), Op. 28

Chamber music

• 2 Mélodies for cello and piano, Op. 3
• Souvenir de la Sérénade de Beethoven for cello and piano, Op. 8
• Une Barcarolle et deux romances sans paroles for cello and piano, Op. 9
• 25 Préludes dédiés aux artistes for cello solo, Op. 10
• Une Sérénade et deux pensées fugitives for cello and piano, Op. 11
• Solo de Concert in D major for cello and string quartet (or orchestra, or piano), Op. 12
• 3 Duos dédiés aux Amateurs for 2 cellos, Op. 15
• Rêverie for cello and piano, Op. 16
• 6 Duettinos faciles et progressifs for 2 cellos, Op. 18
• Chants du Soir, Trio for cello with viola and double bass, Op. 19
• Fantaisie sur un thème de Beethoven for cello and string quintet (or piano), Op. 22 (1862)
• Souvenir d'un bal, Fantaisie for cello and piano, Op. 23
• Élégie in G major for cello and piano, Op. 24
• Valse brillante in A major for cello and piano, Op. 26
• La Primavera, Pastorale for cello and piano, Op. 27
• Pensées des champs for cello and piano, Op. 29 (1863)
• 3 Duos for 2 cellos, Op. 31
• Les Regrets, 2 Rêveries for cello and piano, Op. 32 (1867)
• Réminiscences de Beethoven, Caprice for cello and string quartet (or piano), Op. 33
• 2 Romances sans paroles (2 Songs Without Words) for cello and piano, Op. 34
• Les Rêves dorés, 3 Pensées fugitives for cello and piano, Op. 35
• Boléro in E minor for cello and string quartet (or piano, or orchestra), Op. 36
• Trio No. 1 in G major for 3 cellos, Op. 38
• Sonata in G major for cello and piano; transcription of the Trio, Op. 38
• Souvenirs d'enfance, 3 Pieces for cello and piano, Op. 39
• Trio No. 2 in C minor for 3 cellos, Op. 40 (1869)
• Les matinées du printemps, Idylle for cello and piano, Op. 42
• Spanische Serenade, Duo for violin and cello, Op. 43 (1880)
• Gavotte dans le style ancien for cello or violin and piano, Op. 45
• Berceuse et chanson d'enfant for cello or violin and piano, Op. 46
• La Gioventu!, 3 Pièces for cello and piano, Op. 50
• Romance et scherzetto for cello or violin and piano, Op. 51 (published 1888)
• Barcarolle for cello and piano, Op. 52 (1887)
• Prière du matin for cello and piano, Op. 53 (1887)
• Élégie for cello or violin and piano, Op. 55 (1888)
• Dans les près, Chansonnette for cello (or violin, or oboe) and piano, Op. 57
• 3 Pièces mélodiques et faciles for cello or violin and piano (1891)

1. Souvenirs, Op. 60
2. Dis-moi pourquoi, Op. 61
3. Une nuit à Grenade, Op. 62

• 2 Pièces caractéristiques for cello or violin and piano (1892)

1. Le Rêve, Op. 63
2. Gavotte préférée, Op. 64

• 4 Pièces caractéristiques for cello solo (published 1895)

Pedigogical works for cello

• 3 Études en double cordes (3 Etudes in Double-Stopping), Op. 1 (1843?)
• 24 Études adoptées pour l'enseignment dans les classes du Conservatoire de Musique à Paris, Op. 4
• 6 Études-caprices, Op. 5
• 12 Pièces faciles ou petites études de style mélodique for 2 cellos, Op. 6
• 50 Études méthodiques for 2 cellos, Op. 7
• Études des doubles cordes (Etudes in Double-Stopping), 2 Thèmes variés en forme d'études, Op. 13
• 18 Études sur les compositions de J. Stiastny, Op. 21 (1862)
• 12 Études aux positions du pouce (12 Etudes in Thumb Position), Op. 25
• 6 Études artistiques, Op. 30 (1863)
• 12 Études dans le manche précedant les 12 études aux positions du pouce (12 Etudes on the Neck Preceding 12 Studies in Thumb Position), Op. 49 (published 1885)
• 6 Études sur des difficultés nouvelles (Etudes on New Challenges), Op. 56 (1888)

Piano

• 6 Pièces faciles et caractéristiques, Op. 54 (1887)

Vocal

• Le Rêve, Mélodie for baritone, cello and piano with chorus ad libitum, Op. 17 (1859)

Notes

External links

• Free scores by Félix Battanchon at the International Music Score Library Project