Papillon Op. 77
A short virtuoso showpiece for cello and piano, composed in 1884. Fauré reportedly disliked the nickname "Papillon" (Butterfly) his publisher insisted on and considered the title a marketing imposition on what he thought of as a technically demanding morceau. The outer sections are flurries of rapid figuration over a simple piano accompaniment; the central section drops into a lyrical Andantino, giving the performer a brief moment to breathe before the butterfly returns. Three minutes of controlled dazzle.
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Write the first performer's note, a practice note on a specific passage, or an interpretive school you'd defend in front of colleagues.
Allegro vivo — Andantino — Allegro vivo
Hamelle
The original French edition. Standard historical source.
International Music Company
American performing edition with added bowings and fingerings. Adapted for modern cello technique.