125

2ème Caprice original

op. 5

[musical score]
piano solo

Composition: before 26 November 1851, the date on the third autograph manuscript. The sequence of the three versions, all very similar, is not clear. Bizet won a first prize in solfège in July 1849.

Autograph scores:
1

F-Pn MS. 421, gift of Reynaldo Hahn. 16 f., 12-stave paper, oblong, 232 x 307 mm.

The 2ème Caprice original (first version) is on p. 15–16 of the manuscript, which also contains Prélude en sol, Prélude en mi mineur, Prélude en ut, Prélude en la mineur, Valse, Thème, 1er Caprice original, Romance, and Romance sans paroles.
2

S-Smf MMS 323:17. 88 f., 12-stave paper, oblong 221 x 295 mm., formerly Heyer Collection, Cologne.

The 2ème Caprice original (second version) is on p. 8-11 of the album.
3

US-NYj, 2B552cao no.2. 10-stave paper, oblong 26 x 34 cm., 2 p., dated Paris, 26-11-1851, and inscribed 'à Monsieur Ernest l’Epine souvenir d’affection de son jeune ami Georges Bizet le 26 novembre 1851'. Previously sold at Vente Drouot, Paris, 23-5-1997 and Sotheby’s, London, 4-12-1998. Facsimile of p. 2 in Sotheby’s catalogue. This version, 97 bars long, differs slightly from both other versions.

Printed score:
1

Mario Bois, Œuvres pour le piano, 1984, edited by Michel Poupet, p. 19–21 (first version), p. 22–24 (second version).

Dedicatee: Ernest L’Épine (1826–93) was a painter, composer and dramatist who worked in government administration, also a minor composer. In 1851 he was 'chef du cabinet à la présidence du Corps législatif'. He wrote for the theatre under the name E. Manuel, including a collaboration with Daudet. He wrote for the Constitutionnel and for Le Ménestrel (see Wright p. 15 and 52). He was also in charge of the 1867 Concours in which Bizet took part (see Hymne de la paix).

Letters:
29-10-[1876], Ernest l’Épine to Ludovic Halévy:
'Mes relations avec Bizet remontent à 1849 ou 50. Il y a 36 ans ! J’ai un morceau de piano manuscrit de 1851 qu’il a écrit pour moi.'
F-Po
Discography:
Bibliography: