Suite Francaise

The four songs arranged here manifest composer Richard Rodney Bennett’s omnivorous musical sourcework. La belle Au Pied De La Tour was set by Poulenc in his Chansons Francaises. L’amour De Moi is an old Gallic tune that entered the French popular song canon with recordings in the 1970’s by several French singers. La Chaine was frequently sung by chanteuse Damia over the decades of her career from the early 1900’s onward. La Pauvre Mariée tells of the hardships of marriage but is set to a jolly gigue. Movements may be played separately. Composer, performer and arranger Richard Rodney Bennett was internationally respected for his serious music and many award-winning film scores (Murder on the Orient Express, Nicholas and Alexandra) as well as his works for children and his religious pieces. In addition, this markedly versatile musician frequently performed as a jazz pianist and arranger.