Déodat de Séverac: Musical Identity in Fin de Siècle France

Best known for his piano music, Déodat de Séverac (1872-1921) also composed orchestral and vocal works, including opera, cantata and incidental music. In this book, Robert Waters provides a much-needed study of the life and works of Séverac, focusing on the composers regionalist philosophy. Séveracs engagement with folk music was not a patriotic gesture in the vein of nationalistic composers, but a way of expressing regional identity within France to counter the restrictive styles sanctioned by the Paris Conservatory. The book will appeal to those specializing in French music, European ethnic musics, piano music and French music history.