Souvenirs de Munich

Chabrier's interest in Wagner dated from 1862, when as a study exercise he copied out the score of Tannhäuser. In early 1880 he requested time off from his ministry job to visit Munich that March with Duparc and other musician friends to go to a performance of Tristan und Isolde as it could only be seen there. The experience was a musical revelation for Chabrier. He wept upon hearing the Prelude: “I've waited ten years to hear that A on the cellos.” Chabrier, as assistant to Charles Lamoureux, helped in the rehearsals for the concert performances in Paris of Act I (1884) and Act II (1885) of Tristan. The exact date of the creation of Souvenirs de Munich is unknown, but it probably dates from 1887. ==Music==

The five movements follow the traditional layout of a musical quadrille • Pantalon (C major, 2/4) uses themes of the sailors’ greeting to King Marke (Act 1), the Kareol leitmotif (Act III) • Eté (G major, 2/4) uses themes of Ecstasy, Love call, Love song (Act II) • Poule (C major, 6/8) uses themes of the shepherd's joyful tune (Act III), death song (Act II) • Pastourelle (D major, 2/4) uses themes of Kurwenal's song • Galop (F major, 2/4) Sailor's doleful song (Act I), Kurwenal's aria (Act I) and Longing for death (Act II) ==References==