Beschrijving

The Paris born composer and pianist Serge Lancen (1922-2005) studied the piano with Marguerite Long and composition with Tony Aubin at the conservatory of his native town and was awarded a Prix de Rome. Lancen composed symphonic music, choral works, ballet music and several concertos.

In 1960 he met his ancient study friend Désiré Dondeyne, conductor of the Paris Metropolitan Police Band, who incited him to write for symphonic band. Lancen wrote an impressive series of wind band works that earned him an international reputation. Among his most successful compositions are Manhattan Symphony (1962) an Cape Kennedy (1970), but we should not forget that Lancen also wrote several fine works for symphonic bands of average level. So he did in 1976 by writing two rhapsodies based respectively on Breton and Normandy themes.

The Rhapsody on Themes from Normandy was recorded in 1977 on a long playing record by the French National Police Band conducted by Pierre Bigot alongside with Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Hymne à la Musique and Rapsodie sur des Thèmes Breton. Rhapsody on Themes from Normandy is a piece that is characterized by an original orchestration and fluent melodic lines, two main characters of Lancen’s music.