Hortense de Beauharnais - Expanding the Music Theory Canon

Hortense de Beauharnais
François Gérard

The French musician and noblewoman Hortense de Beauharnais (1783-1837) wrote 124 romances for voice and piano. These pieces were published in their entirety by Vialon and exhibited by Napoleon III at Malmaison in 1867. Her most famous piece, Partant pour la Syrie became a national anthem under the Second Empire and was the subject for piano variations by Johann Hummel and Franz Schubert. The texts for most of Hortense’s romances were written by Count Laborde, and professional court musicians assisted with the melodic development of each piece.

Hortense was the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte, and she was briefly married to his brother, Louis Bonaparte. During this marriage, she was the Queen of Holland. After separating from her husband and returning to France, she acquired the title Duchess of Saint-Leu.

Works:

124 Romances for voice and piano

c. 1817 12 Romances

c. 1818 12 Romances dedicated to Eugène de Beauharnais

after 1827 12 Romances dedicated to Stéphanie de Beauharnais

c.1857 12 Romances ‘Album Artistique’

1867 Vialon published all 124 romances

Resources:

Public Domain Scores

Memoirs

Sources:

Quetin, Laurine. “Hortense.” Grove Music Online. 2001.