Home from the Sea

Learning music is always a good step when you are young, because you never know when its discipline and diversion will come in handy. Albert Roussel came from a seafaring family and it was no surprise that he joined the French Navy. Seeing the world and battling the elements were however not enough for our mid-shipman and in middle age he turned his attention to music, studying with Eugène Gigout and at the Schola Cantorum with Vincent D'Indy. Attracted to the color and harmonies of Impressionism, Roussel added his own sense of Classical Architecture and restraint. Besides his composing, Roussel was very influential as a teacher to such composers as Satie, Edgard Varese and Bohuslav Martinu.

The beauty, adventure and clean construction of Roussel's music comes across in his piano pieces as well, which you can hear this Sunday afternoon at 5 here on KPAC and KTXI.

host, Randy Anderson