Composer

:

Louis Durey

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1919

Average_duration

:

6:14

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Louis Durey's 'Madrigaux de Mallarmé (6), Op. 22a' is a collection of six songs for voice and piano, composed in 1920. The work was premiered on May 25, 1921, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Jean Périer as the soloist. The six movements of the work are settings of poems by the French symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé. Durey's music is characterized by its simplicity and clarity, with a focus on the text and the vocal line. The piano accompaniment is sparse and often serves to highlight the vocal melody. The first movement, "Soupir," is a delicate and melancholic setting of a poem about a sigh. The second movement, "Placet futile," is more lively and playful, with a syncopated piano accompaniment and a vocal line that dances around the text. The third movement, "Éventail," is a slow and dreamy setting of a poem about a fan. The fourth movement, "Salut," is a more declamatory and dramatic setting of a poem about a greeting. The fifth movement, "Don du poème," is a gentle and introspective setting of a poem about the gift of poetry. The final movement, "Surgi de la croupe et du bond," is a lively and rhythmic setting of a poem about a horse. Overall, Durey's 'Madrigaux de Mallarmé' is a beautiful and understated work that showcases the composer's skill at setting poetry to music. The simplicity of the music allows the poetry to shine through, and the result is a work that is both elegant and emotionally powerful.

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