1. Winter forest 2. Springtime 3. Summer evening 4. Fauns and dryads
Roussel (1869-1937) was, by musical standards, a late developer, only taking up the art at the ripe old age of 25. In 1898, he was invited by Vincent d Indy to the Scholar Cantorum. These were to prove the most decisive years in shaping Roussel's development as a musician. Proof of his talent came in 1902 when d Indy entrusted him to teach counterpoint. His pupils included Erik Satie and Edgar Varése, both of whom were his senior. Roussel wrote the Poem of the Forest between 1904 and 1906 during his years at the Scholar Cantorum. Its Paris premiere was Roussel's first major success. Roussel combines the French symphonic tradition of César Franck with d Indy's compositional rigour using a style of scoring that is reminiscent of Debussy.