Gabriel Pierné was born in Metz, France, on August 16, 1863. He attended
the Paris Conservatory for eleven years, a pupil of Massenet and César
Franck. He won numerous awards there including the Prix de Rome in 1882.
After returning from Rome, he succeeded Franck as organist of the Ste.
Clothilde Church in Paris, retaining this post until 1898. From 1903
until 1932 he was, first the assistant, and from 1910 on the principal,
conductor of the Colonne Orchestra. He combined his long and fruitful
career as conductor with that of composer, producing a vast library of
music in virtually every form, including operas, oratorios, ballets,
symphonic and chamber music. He achieved renown with the oratorio _The
Children’s Crusade_ (_La Croisade des enfants_), introduced in 1905 and
soon after that winner of the City of Paris Award. Another major success
came with the ballet, _Cydalise and the Satyr_ in 1923. A conservative
composer, Pierné utilized traditional forms with distinction, and filled
them with beautiful lyricism, well-sounding harmonies, and a poetic
speech. In 1925 Pierné was elected member of the Académie des
Beaux-Arts. He died in Ploujean, France, on July 17, 1937.
The _Entrance of the Little Fauns_ (_Marche des petites faunes_) is a
whimsical little march for orchestra from the ballet, _Cydalise and the
Satyr_ (_Cydalise et le chèvre-pied_), introduced at the Paris Opéra on
January 15, 1923. A saucy tune for muted trumpet is juxtaposed against
the wail of piccolos; all the while an incisive rhythm is projected not
only by the snare drum and tambourine but also by the violinists tapping
the wood of their bows on the strings. Within the ballet this march
accompanies the appearance of a group of small fauns, led by their
teacher, an old satyr, as they enter school to learn pan pipes.
The _March of the Little Lead Soldiers_ (_Marche des petits soldats de
plomb_) originated as a piano piece in the _Album pour mes petits amis_,
op. 14 (1887), but was subsequently orchestrated by the composer. It
opens with a muted trumpet call. A snare drum then establishes the
rhythm and sets the stage for the appearance of the main march melody in
solo flute.