Augusta Holmès (Dec. 18, 1847 - Jan. 28 1903) was a pianist and composer, born in Paris, and of Irish descent. Despite showing great talent as a child, she wasn't allowed to take piano at the Paris Conservatory. Instead she took private piano lessons with Mademoiselle Peyrnnet, and later on, harmony and counterpoint with Henri Lambert, and composition lessons with Hyacinthe Klosé. Holmès became a student of César Frank in 1876, and considered him her greatest teacher.

Holmès' compositions include operas, cantatas, piano music, songs, and orchestral works. Andromède. is a symphonic poem written around 1883, and published in 1902.  The first minute and a half is primarily a brass fanfare-like introduction with strings coming in, ominously between parts of the fanfare, before the main theme opens up. As the strings are playing a descending line, the winds move up in a scale-like way, which they do several parts of the work, The work starts in c minor and  ends in A-flat major and that change happens gradually and is cemented with a dotted eighth sixteenth note rhythm in and the original theme turns major. Not unlike other romantic era symphonic poems, this works spans various moods and seems to tell an adventurous story. Holmès' writing is exciting and engaging!

Here is a recording of this wonderful work for you to enjoy!

Rheinland Pfalz Philharmonic