Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1956

Average_duration

:

0:50

"La souris" is a song composed by Francis Poulenc in 1920. It was premiered on May 18, 1921, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Pierre Bernac as the soloist. The song is the first movement of Poulenc's song cycle "Le Bestiaire ou Cortège d'Orphée" (The Bestiary or Orpheus's Procession), which sets to music poems by Guillaume Apollinaire. "La souris" is a playful and whimsical song that depicts a mouse scurrying around a room. The music is light and sprightly, with a bouncy rhythm and a jaunty melody that captures the mouse's quick movements. Poulenc's piano accompaniment is particularly effective in evoking the scampering of the mouse, with its rapid arpeggios and staccato chords. The vocal line is equally lively, with a range of leaps and runs that mimic the mouse's darting movements. The text, by Apollinaire, is full of vivid imagery and wordplay, describing the mouse as a "little gray velvet thief" and a "fugitive of the skirting board." The song ends with a sudden stop, as if the mouse has disappeared into a crack in the wall. Overall, "La souris" is a charming and delightful song that showcases Poulenc's skill at setting poetry to music. Its playful character and light-hearted tone make it a popular choice for recitals and concerts, and it remains one of Poulenc's most beloved works.

More....