Cécile Louise Stéphanie Chaminade (Aug. 8, 1857 - April 13, 1944) was a French pianist and composer. Her mother was her first piano teacher, and she also took violin and composition; sadly her father disapproved.Despite her father's disapproval, Chaminade was composing at a young age, and at eight years old she played some of her music for George Bizet, who was very impressed. Her first concert happened ten years later, and most of her compositions, which were mainly for piano, were published. She toured around France, and Isidor Phillipp, head of the piano department at the Paris Conservatory, was a strong proponent of her works. Chaminade was also very popular in America; her works were often found in the music collections of piano music enthusiasts.

Feuilles d'automne is just one of her many piano pieces, and is like much else of her work, highly enjoyable. The beginning melody is relaxed and cheerful, and supported by a busy, left hand part. The work then goes to a middle section that briefly changes to a more serious tone, with a sparkling line in the right hand, and then back to the original cheerful melody. It's short, clocking in around 3:30, so it fits perfectly on a recital, as an encore, or for your own enjoyment!

Here is a recording of this delightful work---by the composer herself!

Cécile Chaminade