Today is the birthday of Arthur Honegger (1892-1955). Honegger was a member of Les six, that collective of composers which rose to prominence in Paris circa 1920.

His disposition, musically speaking, was generally more solemn than that of his colleagues. Not for Honegger the influence of the café and the music hall, as would be the case for, say, Francis Poulenc. Yet he was very good friends with Darius Milhaud, from their days together at the Paris Conservatory. Milhaud dedicated his String Quartet No. 4 to Honegger’s memory, as did Poulenc his Clarinet Sonata.

I’ve always been fond of Honegger’s symphonic movement, “Rugby,” with its dissonant harmonies and flights of lyricism. It pretty much captures the exhilaration that comes from rough-housing and horseplay.

Here’s Bernstein conducting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZlfHXj0mp0

And Honegger:

Bon anniversaire, Arthur Honegger!

PHOTO: Les six on the Eiffel Tower in 1921: (left to right) Germaine Tailleferre, Poulenc, Honegger, Milhaud, Louis Durey, and Georges Auric