It's May, It's May!

 

Several classical composers created piano works specifically depicting or titled after May, highlighting spring themes, nature, and romantic sentiment.

Here are key classical piano pieces about May:

• Franz Behr (1837–1898): In May Time (“In der Maienzeit”) is a well-known, lighter piano piece for children that portrays the awakening of nature and blooming flowers. 
• Edward Elgar (1857–1934): May Song (1901) is a light, lyrical piano piece that captures a cheerful, pastoral feeling.
• Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847): She composed a monumental piano cycle called Das Jahr ("The Year"), which includes a dedicated piece for each month. Her "Mai" is a virtuosic and lyrical celebration of spring.
• Robert Schumann (1810–1856): Although technically a voice/piano piece, "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai" (In the Lovely Month of May) from Dichterliebe, Op. 48, is quintessential to this theme, representing the longing of early spring.
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893): His piano cycle The Seasons, Op. 37a, features "May - Starlit Nights," which evokes the quiet beauty of a spring night.

These pieces are frequently used in collections focusing on spring, nature, and the seasons.

May (Birth) Day for Piano Composers

 Several of Tomoko’s favorite composers were Romantics and were born in May. Here is a sampling of them.

Wagner was born on May 22, 1813, in Leipzig and died in 1883 in Venice. He was particularly known for his Romantic operas.  His lieder that were often performed in the original piano version.

Brahms was born on May 7, 1833, in Hamburg, and died in 1987in Vienna.  His Romantic approach was exhibited in his professional piano composing, performing and conducting. When he toured, he met with several famous peers: Liszt, Wagner, Berlioz, and the Schumans. Most of his music was written for vocal performance, but he also wrote two piano concertos.

Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Votkinsk, Russia and died in 1893 in St. Petersburg. A Romantic composer, he was the first internationally renown composers. His piano music was often targeted to the home market, which increased its popularity. Tchaikovsky started piano lessons at age five, and was quite proficient by age ten, but then he was forced to be trained to become a civil servant. As an adult, he received Western musical theory training, which he merged with his Russian musical upbringing.

Massenet was born on May 12, 1842, in Montaud, France and died on 1912 in Paris. Similarly to Wagner, Massenet is most known for his 30+ Romanic operas, altjough he also wrote piano pieces. To earn a living Massenet started as a private piano teacher and a piano accompanist. His first published composition was a substantial piano work in nine sections.

Fauré was born on May 12, 1845, in Pamiers, France, and died in 1924 in Paris. Fauré’s compositions bridged Romanticism and Modernism.  Although not born into a musical family, he showed promise before the age of ten, and he was trained to be a church organist. However, he preferred the piano to the organ. It was only in middle age that he had enough time to compose, escaping from Paris to focus in the countryside.