Composer

:

Lili Boulanger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1910

Average_duration

:

2:24

"Attente" or "Attente Mon âme a joint ses main étranges" is a vocal and piano composition by Lili Boulanger, a French composer who lived from 1893 to 1918. She was the first woman to win the Prix de Rome, a prestigious music competition in France. "Attente" was composed in 1917, a year before Boulanger's death at the age of 24. The piece has three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement, marked "Lent et grave," is slow and solemn. The piano sets the mood with a series of chords, while the voice enters with a melody that is both mournful and hopeful. The lyrics, written by Boulanger's sister Nadia, speak of waiting for a loved one who has gone away. The music is full of longing and sadness, but also a sense of faith that the loved one will return. The second movement, marked "Très lent," is even slower and more introspective. The piano plays a simple, repetitive melody while the voice sings a haunting melody that seems to float above it. The lyrics speak of the beauty of nature and the passing of time, and the music captures the sense of wonder and awe that comes with contemplating the mysteries of life. The final movement, marked "Lent et expressif," is the most emotional of the three. The piano plays a series of arpeggios while the voice sings a melody that is both passionate and tender. The lyrics speak of the joy of being reunited with a loved one, and the music captures the sense of ecstasy and relief that comes with that reunion. Overall, "Attente" is a deeply emotional and introspective work that reflects Boulanger's own struggles with illness and mortality. The music is full of longing, sadness, and hope, and it speaks to the universal human experience of waiting for something or someone that may never come. Despite its brevity, "Attente" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Boulanger's talent as a composer and her unique voice in the world of classical music.

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