Composer

:

Arthur Honegger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1915 - 1917

Publication Date

:

1921

Average_duration

:

9:56

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Arthur Honegger's 'Poèmes d'Apollinaire (6)', H. 12 is a song cycle composed in 1918. The premiere of the work took place on 22nd May 1919 in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Maurice Vieux as the soloist. The cycle consists of six songs, each based on a poem by the French poet Guillaume Apollinaire. The first movement, 'Automne', is a melancholic and introspective piece that reflects the changing of the seasons and the passing of time. The second movement, 'Clair de lune', is a dreamy and romantic piece that evokes the beauty of the moonlit night. The third movement, 'Dans le jardin d'Anna', is a playful and whimsical piece that describes a garden full of flowers and birds. The fourth movement, 'Voyage', is a dramatic and intense piece that describes a journey through a stormy sea. The fifth movement, 'Les colchiques', is a gentle and nostalgic piece that describes the beauty of the autumn crocus. The final movement, 'Saltimbanques', is a lively and energetic piece that describes a group of traveling performers. The characteristics of Honegger's 'Poèmes d'Apollinaire (6)' are its use of impressionistic harmonies, expressive melodies, and varied textures. The composer's use of dissonance and unconventional chord progressions creates a sense of tension and unease, while his use of tonal centers and recurring motifs provides a sense of unity and coherence throughout the cycle. Overall, Honegger's 'Poèmes d'Apollinaire (6)' is a masterful example of early 20th-century French art song, showcasing the composer's skill in setting poetry to music and his ability to create a rich and evocative musical landscape.

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