This little-known composer of almost 600 works was also a poet writer, folklorist, chronicler, photographer and painter, and an enthusiast for astronomy, archaeology, cycling and motor cars . . .
Until now Fernand de La Tombelle [1854-1928] has remained little known, even to the music lovers of oddities. Yet he was a virtuoso organ player, a much valued teacher (cofounder of the Schola Cantorum with Vincent d'Indy) and a challenging and sophisticated composer. Relevant examples of this are his mélodies that cover a long period of his life and friendships, leading from Saint-Saëns' romanticism to Poulenc's post-war years. His musical language favours the vocal style of Massenet which is not surprising: in 1880 Tombelle married Henriette Delacoux de Marivault, a woman of letters who published, under the pseudonym of Camille Bruno, numerous plays and poems, some of which were set to music by Massenet. Although Tombelle won several major prizes in Paris (the Prix Pleyel in 1887 and 1894, the Prix Chartier in 1896), he spent a large part of his time at Fayrac Castle, his property in the Dordogne village of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, and in Sarlat, where he took a keen interest in the local Périgourdin folklore. The harmonic richness and the variety of atmospheres in the mélodies prove Tombelle was not merely a follower of more famous compatriots.

“There's no mistaking the fineness of Christoyannis's artistry. He sculpts phrases with great refinement and warmth of tone. There's some superb soft singing here...His way with words is immaculate, as one might expect...La Tombelle's piano-writing is effective, if sometimes sparse: Cohen plays with subtlety and strength. It's all faultlessly done.” Gramophone