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You had her piano miniatures or songs propped up on the piano for impromptu performances with friends.
Even the club members husbands showed up in time for dinner.
Once youve tracked down the few extant recordings of her music, its easy to understand her popularity.
She specialized inevocative piano vignettes, full of verdant romance and southern light.
Les Sylvans, one of the showpieces on Friedmans program, threads a bucolic tune through sparkling sprays.
In her songs, she lacquered even simple sentiments inmusical sophistication.
Sometimes she polished up bits of earthy dances so they could adorn a Parisian home.
Its not deep, but itssocharming, Friedman says.
Call it salon music well, fine!
I dont see anything wrong with lighthearted salon music.
Its true that her music works better in an intimate venue, but I prefer it to Franz Liszt.
Chaminade outlived her own reputation.
She even tackled one of chamber musics most notoriously serious genres, thepiano trio.
While women may someday vote, they will never learn to compose anything worth while.
That may have been a bit of wartime hyperbole, but the taint of triviality lingered.
Charm fell into disrepute.
