New issue: Journeau's Menuet, op.1, a piano piece

The Menuet op.1 for piano (Éditions Fortin-Armiane, publisher in Paris) composed in 1921 was thus the first official work by Maurice Journeau. It was dedicated to Mademoiselle J. Paris, a well-known lady organist in Biarritz who taught piano to the young composer. This revival of a dance of the past reveals Maurice Ravel's influence, his music being widely known in the whole Basque country. Like him, Maurice Journeau was interested in Dance and particularly in Waltzes. Dance indeed played an important, quite natural part in social life in the Basque country just like in Spain.

This piano piece was performed in Germany by Professor Jean Micault in honour of Maurice Journeau at the "MusikhochSchule" in Saarbrücken on the occasion of the composer's Centenary in 1998. Then it was recorded by him (Skarbo, DSK 1011). (Chantal Virlet-Journeau)