Oscar Comettant (18 April 1819 – 24 January 1898) was a 19th-century French composer, musicologist and traveller.

Biography

Commettant studied the piano and

musical composition Musical composition can refer to an original piece or work of music, either vocal or instrumental, the structure of a musical piece or to the process of creating or writing a new piece of music. People who create new compositions are called ...

at the

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

(1839–1843) and made a long tour in the United-States from 1852 to 1855 as a soloist. He left

Le Havre Le Havre (, ; nrf, Lé Hâvre ) is a port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very cl ...

on 1 September 1852 and arrived in New York City on the 13th. He then visited the

Niagara Falls Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, ...

Mammoth Cave Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. Since the 1972 unification of Mammoth Cave with the even-longer system under F ...

, saw the

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

Lake Superior Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...

, Cedar Creek, among other places. His circuit began on a steamer on the

Hudson River The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...

. The train then led him from Albany to Buffalo, with a stop at Niagara Falls. He went to

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

, Kingston,

Mille-Isles Mille-Isles is a municipality in the Laurentides region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Argenteuil Regional County Municipality, west of Saint-Jérôme. Mille-Isles is in the Laurentian Hills, crossed by rivers and dotted with fish-filled lakes. ...

, and

Montréal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-p ...

, then south to Saratoga and returned to New York where he rested for two weeks. Comettant later visited

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, Richmond (Virginia), and Charleston, then spent a month in

Mobile Mobile may refer to: Places * Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city * Mobile County, Alabama * Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S. * Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Mobile ( ...

in a cotton plantation. On his way to

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

, he sailed on the Mississippi and went through

Vicksburg Vicksburg most commonly refers to: * Vicksburg, Mississippi, a city in western Mississippi, United States * The Vicksburg Campaign, an American Civil War campaign * The Siege of Vicksburg, an American Civil War battle Vicksburg is also the name of ...

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

and

Louisville Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...

, where he took the opportunity to admire

and ended his journey by

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

and

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. Unlike many travelers, Comettant focused on American society and institutions; the great spaces of nature were indifferent to him. Although very detailed on political life, religions, education etc. and the American cod, his works, where he invented the character of the French painter Marcel Bonneau, were fictional. In 1855, on his return to France, he became a professor of music; while composing, he worked as a music critic for ''

Le Siècle ''Le Siècle'' ("''The Age''") is a daily newspaper that was published from 1836 to 1932 in France. History In 1836, ''Le Siècle'' was founded as a paper that supported constitutional monarchism. However, when the July Monarchy came to an end ...

'' and ''

Le Ménestrel ''Le Ménestrel'' (The Minstrel) was an influential French music journal published weekly from 1833 until 1940. It was founded by Joseph-Hippolyte l'Henry and originally printed by Poussièlgue. In 1840 it was acquired by the music publishers Heu ...

''. Comettant went again on a journey in 1864 and visited

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

, then in July 1888 was appointed French juror at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition (1888) where he arrived 6 September after he left

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...

1 August. He visited Lilydale where he met

squatters Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there ...

and

Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...

and, in October 1888, the mines of

Ballarat Ballarat ( ) is a city in the Central Highlands (Victoria), Central Highlands of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Ballarat had a population of 116,201, making it the third largest city in Victoria. Estimated resid ...

and Sandhurst. He also traveled in the Great Western, where he admired the vines before going to Sydney to attend a banquet (December). After composing his "Salute to Melbourne" for piano, he returned to France on 28 December 1888.

Publications

*1858: ''Trois ans aux États-Unis. Étude des mœurs et coutumes américaines'' *1861: ''Le Nouveau Monde. Scènes de la vie américaine'' *1861: ''Les Secrets de la mer'', short story *1862: ''Physiologie du mal de mer'' *1863: ''Les Civilisations inconnues'' *1864: ''L'Amérique telle qu'elle est. Voyage anecdotique de M. Bonneau dans le nord et le sud des États-Unis. Excursion au Canada'' *1864: ''En vacances'' *1865: ''En Amérique, en France et Ailleurs'' *1865: ''Le Danemark tel qu'il est'' *1865: ''Un Petit rien tout neuf'' *1866: ''Voyage pittoresque et anecdotique dans le nord et le sud des États-Unis d'Amérique'' *1868: ''De haut en bas, impressions pyrénéennes'' *1868: '' Gustave Lambert au Pôle Nord, ce qu'il y va faire'' *1869: ''De Paris à quelque part'' *1883: ''Histoires de bonne humeur *1890: ''Au pays des kangourous et des mines d'or. Étude des mœurs et coutumes australiennes, impressions de voyage'' *1895: ''L'homme et les bêtes'', moral studies

Musicology

*1857: ''La Propriété intellectuelle au point de vue de la morale et du progrès'' *1860: ''Histoire d'un inventeur au XIXe siècle.

Adolphe Sax Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax (; 6 November 1814 – 4 February 1894) was a Belgian inventor and musician who invented the saxophone in the early 1840s, patenting it in 1846. He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and saxtuba. He played the fl ...

, ses ouvrages et ses luttes'' *1862: ''Musique et musiciens'' *1869: ''La musique, les musiciens et les instruments de musique chez les différents peuples du monde'' *1870: ''Les Musiciens, les philosophes et les gaietés de la musique en chiffres'' *1875: ''Comédies en quatre lignes'' *1875: ''Francis Planté, portrait musical à la plume'' *1877: ''Enseignement du piano. Le Guide-mains W. Bohrer. Notice illustrée de deux dessins, explications et conseils sur l'emploi du Guide-mains W. Bohrer'' *1883: ''Les Compositeurs illustres de notre siècle : Rossini, Meyerbeer, Mendelssohn, Halévy, Gounod, Félicien David'' *1885: ''Un Nid d'autographes. Lettres inédites recueillies et annotées par Oscar Comettant'' *1889: ''La Norvège musicale à Paris'' *1890: ''Histoire de cent mille pianos et d'une salle de concert'' *1891: ''La Hollande musicale à Paris''''La Hollande musicale à Paris''
/ref> *1894: ''La musique de la garde républicaine en Amérique'' *1894–1898 ''La Musique de chambre'', 6 vols.

Compositions

*1841: ''Un Vieux grognard'', Fantastic interlude in one act, lyrics by Théophile Mercier *1844: ''L'Aigle !'', imperial quadrille with quartet accompaniment for piano *1844: ''Faisons-nous belle'',

bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

, lyrics by Adolphe Favre *1844: ''Oh ! si tu le voulais !'', romance, lyrics by

Louise Colet Louise Colet (15 August 1810 – 9 March 1876), born Louise Revoil de Servannes, was a French poet and writer. Life and works She was born at the hôtel d'Antoine ( fr) in Aix-en-Provence in France. In her twenties she married Hippolyt ...

*1844: ''Un Rayon de Dieu'', melody, lyrics by Adolphe Favre *1846: ''Le Chant de la syrène'', melody, lyrics by Alfred Des Essarts *1846: ''Jeanne d'Arc'', scene and air, lyrics by Alfred des Essarts *1846: ''La Plainte d'Ariane'', drama melody for soprano, lyrics by Alfred des Essarts *1848: ''La Danse au bois'', ditty, lyrics by Adolphe Favre *1848: ''Marinetta la fiancée'', barcarolle, lyrics by Adolphe Favre *1849: ''L'Exilée au Texas'', melody *1849: ''Raphaël au tombeau de Julie'', melody *1850: ''Élégie pour piano et violon'', Op. 35 *1850: ''Fantaisie de concert pour piano et violon'', Op. 33 *1851: ''Andante'', scherzo and final for piano. Op. 48 *1851: ''École mélodique du jeune pianiste, 12 études récréatives pour former les élèves au style expressif et chantant'', op. 55 *1851: ''Fantaisie brillante pour piano sur l'Enfant Prodigue, de D. F. E. Auber'', Op. 56 *1851: ''God Save the queen'', caprice for piano. Op. 39 *1851: ''Une nuit à Smyrne'', oriental fantasy for piano. Op. 42 *1851: ''Les petits Oiseaux'', three easy waltz for the piano *1851: ''Rule Britannia'', fantasy for piano *1851: ''Souvenir de Gisors'', waltz for the piano *1852: ''Casilda'', small fantasy for piano for small hands. Op. 60 *1852: ''Fantaisie brillante sur le Juif errant, de F. Halévy'', for the piano. op. 63 *1852: ''Fantaisie sur l'opéra Mosquita la Sorcière, de X Boisselot'', for piano. Op. 58 *1852: ''Le Troubadour du Pérou'', eight Spanish romances *1852: ''La Vision'', polka mazurka for piano *1856: ''Chanson de l'Oncle Tom'', study for piano *1856: ''Appassionato'', new study of salon for piano *1856: ''Choral américain'', miscellany for piano *1856: ''Élan du cœur'', study for piano *1856: ''Rêverie harmonieuse'', study for piano *1856: ''Sur le lac'', study for piano *1857: ''Banjo'', caprice, piano *1857: ''L'Amazone'', polka for piano *1857: ''Le Cor de chasse'', polka for piano *1857: ''Edda !'', polka-mazurka for piano *1857: ''Églantine !'', schottisch for piano *1857: ''La Fin du bal !'', galop for piano *1857: ''La Noce au village'', quadrille for piano *1857: ''Nymphe des nuits'', waltz for piano *1860: ''L'Inconstance !'', great piano waltz for piano *1861: ''Un ballo in maschera, opéra de Verdi'', caprice de Salon for piano *1861: ''Tantum ergo pour voix de baryton ou mezzo-Soprano'' *1861: ''Le Traîneau !'', waltz for piano *1862: ''Alceste, opéra de Gluck'', Temple scene arranged for piano *1863: ''Les Nuits de Bohème'', characteristic march for the piano *1863: ''La Gamme des amours'', variations on a known theme *1871: ''Metz. Hymne de Gaston Hirsch'' *1872: ''Alsace et Lorraine'', march, piano *1873: ''Heures d'harmonie'', little pieces for piano *1876: ''La beauté provençale'', waltz, piano *1879: ''La Sympathie'', sentimental waltz, Op.162 *1888: ''Berceuse'', piano *1888 ''Chœur nocturne'', nocturne, piano *1888: ''Scherzetto pastoral'', piano *1888: ''Impromptu-Caprice'', piano (1888) *1888: ''Simplesse'', piano (1888) *1888: ''Bergerie !'', choir for two voices of women, accompanied by piano, lyrics by Oscar Comettant, music by Renaud-Maury *1888: ''Villanelle rythmique'', piano *1889: ''Salut à Melbourne !'', piano *1889: ''Bagatelle'', lyrics and music *1889: ''Le Sydney'', sea song (with choir ''ad libitum'') *1890: ''Les cinq cousines'', piano *1892: ''Allegro de salon'', piano *1892: ''Le petit Trianon'', piano *1892: ''Impromptu'', piano *1892: ''Rondeau villageois'', piano *1892: ''Menuet'', piano *1892: ''Christina !'', polka mazurka composed for the piano *1898 ''Aux absents'', piano *1898: ''Impressions d'une nuit d'été'', piano *1898: ''La permission des quintes'', piano *1898: ''Trois Méditations musicales pour piano'' *1907: ''Eoline'', piano. Op. 37 * ''Six études de salon'', piano. Op. 32 (undated) * ''Fantaisie caprice pour piano sur Zerline ou la Corbeille d'oranges, by D. F. E. Auber''. Op. 57 (undated) * ''Le Pardon de Ploërmel, de Meyerbeer'', transcription-fantasy for piano (undated)

Bibliography

*1870:

Gustave Vapereau Louis Gustave Vapereau (4 April 1819 – 18 April 1906) was a French writer and lexicographer famous primarily for his dictionaries, the ''Dictionnaire universel des contemporains'' and the ''Dictionnaire universel des littérateurs''. Biography ...

, ''Dictionnaire universel des contemporains'', Hachette,
read on line
*1995: with an 1860 photograph. *1999: Numa Broc, ''Dictionnaire des Explorateurs français du XIXe siècle'', T.3, Amérique, CTHS, *2005: Jean Roy, « Comettant (Oscar) », in

Biography

Publications

Musicology

Compositions

Bibliography

References

External links