Composer

:

Gabriel Fauré

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1888

Publication Date

:

1888

Average_duration

:

2:23

Gabriel Fauré's "Spleen" is a song for voice and piano in D minor, Op. 51/3. It was composed in 1891 and premiered the same year in Paris. The song is part of a set of three songs, collectively known as "Trois Mélodies," which were published in 1892. The song is divided into two distinct movements. The first movement is slow and mournful, with a melancholic melody that reflects the poem's themes of sadness and despair. The piano accompaniment is sparse and understated, providing a somber backdrop for the singer's voice. The second movement is faster and more agitated, with a more complex piano accompaniment that reflects the poem's themes of restlessness and anxiety. The singer's voice is more forceful and urgent, conveying a sense of desperation and longing. The lyrics of "Spleen" were written by the French poet Charles Baudelaire, and they explore themes of ennui, disillusionment, and despair. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, and it expresses a sense of hopelessness and futility. Fauré's musical setting of the poem captures the mood and tone of the text perfectly, with its haunting melodies and evocative harmonies. The song is a masterpiece of French art song, and it remains a popular and beloved work in the classical repertoire.

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