Firmin
Swinnen (1885-1972), born in Belgium, is best known for his involvement
with the organs at the du Pont estate, Longwood Gardens. Swinnen had
not yet begun his tenure there at the time of publication
of
Chinoiserie, but at an early age
was already a master of improvisatory theatre organ music. The
musical character of the piece is patterned after the popular Chinese
intricate designs and motifs identified with this style associated with
pottery and room decoration. Today, we might think of it as stereotypical
19th century Chinese.
Chinoiserie was dedicated to Hugo Riesenfeld, the great film
music composer. This music is fast and light without demanding exceptional
proficiency in scales, moderately easy.