Composer

:

Louis Aubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

22:45

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Louis Aubert's 'Poèmes arabes (6)' is a collection of six songs for voice and piano, composed in 1918. The premiere of the work took place on 22nd May 1919, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the famous French soprano, Claire Croiza, as the vocalist. The six movements of the work are titled as follows: 1. "Le Nil" (The Nile) 2. "Le Sphinx" (The Sphinx) 3. "Le Caire" (Cairo) 4. "Le Tombeau" (The Tomb) 5. "Le Désert" (The Desert) 6. "La Nuit" (The Night) The poems that inspired Aubert to compose these songs were written by the French poet, Albert Samain, who was known for his fascination with the exoticism of the East. The poems are written in a highly evocative and sensual style, and Aubert's music captures the mood and atmosphere of each poem perfectly. In "Le Nil," the first movement, the piano sets the scene with a flowing, rippling accompaniment that suggests the movement of the river. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with long, soaring phrases that convey the majesty and grandeur of the Nile. In "Le Sphinx," the second movement, the piano takes on a more mysterious and enigmatic character, with a repetitive, hypnotic motif that suggests the inscrutable nature of the Sphinx. The vocal line is more declamatory and dramatic, with sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo that reflect the shifting moods of the poem. In "Le Caire," the third movement, the piano takes on a more rhythmic and dance-like character, with a lively, syncopated accompaniment that suggests the bustling energy of the city. The vocal line is more playful and flirtatious, with a lightness and delicacy that reflects the beauty and charm of Cairo. In "Le Tombeau," the fourth movement, the piano takes on a more somber and mournful character, with a slow, mournful melody that suggests the solemnity of the tomb. The vocal line is more introspective and contemplative, with a sense of longing and nostalgia that reflects the poet's meditation on mortality. In "Le Désert," the fifth movement, the piano takes on a more sparse and austere character, with a simple, repetitive motif that suggests the vast emptiness of the desert. The vocal line is more plaintive and melancholic, with a sense of isolation and despair that reflects the poet's sense of being lost in the wilderness. In "La Nuit," the final movement, the piano takes on a more ethereal and dreamlike character, with a shimmering, impressionistic accompaniment that suggests the mystery and magic of the night. The vocal line is more mystical and otherworldly, with a sense of wonder and awe that reflects the poet's sense of being transported to a higher realm. Overall, Aubert's 'Poèmes arabes (6)' is a highly evocative and atmospheric work that captures the exoticism and sensuality of the East. The music is richly expressive and nuanced, with a wide range of moods and emotions that reflect the complex and multifaceted nature of the poems.

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