Composer

:

Gabriel Fauré

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1891

Publication Date

:

1891

Average_duration

:

3:20

"En sourdine, Op. 58/2" is a song composed by Gabriel Fauré, a French composer, pianist, and teacher. The song was composed in 1891 and premiered in Paris in the same year. It is the second song in Fauré's song cycle "Cinq mélodies de Venise" (Five Venetian Songs), which was composed for voice and piano. The song is in the key of F-sharp minor and has a slow and melancholic tempo. It is divided into three sections, with the first and third sections being in a minor key and the middle section in a major key. The song is characterized by its use of chromaticism, which creates a sense of tension and unease. The lyrics of "En sourdine" were written by Paul Verlaine, a French poet. The poem describes a couple sitting by the water at night, listening to the sound of the waves and the wind. The couple is in love, but their love is quiet and subdued, as if they are afraid to express it too loudly. The poem ends with the couple falling asleep, still listening to the sound of the waves. Fauré's setting of the poem captures the mood of the text perfectly. The music is understated and delicate, with the piano providing a gentle accompaniment to the voice. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a sense of longing and sadness. The use of chromaticism adds a layer of complexity to the music, reflecting the tension and unease in the text. Overall, "En sourdine, Op. 58/2" is a beautiful and haunting song that captures the mood of Verlaine's poem perfectly. Fauré's setting of the text is masterful, with the music perfectly complementing the words. The song is a testament to Fauré's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotions of a text in his music.

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