Composer

:

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Publication Date

:

1726

Average_duration

:

1:56

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

"Beaux petits yeux d'écarlate" is a vocal work composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, a French Baroque composer, in the 17th century. The piece was likely composed in the 1680s, during Charpentier's time as the music director for the Jesuit church of Saint-Louis in Paris. The work is a cantata, a type of vocal composition that typically features a solo singer accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble. "Beaux petits yeux d'écarlate" is scored for a solo soprano voice, accompanied by a basso continuo consisting of a harpsichord and a cello. The cantata is divided into three movements. The first movement is a lively aria in which the singer addresses her "beaux petits yeux d'écarlate," or "beautiful little scarlet eyes." The music is characterized by its sprightly rhythms and playful melodic lines, which evoke the singer's delight in the object of her affection. The second movement is a slower, more introspective aria in which the singer reflects on the pain that her love has caused her. The music is more melancholy in character, with long, expressive melodic lines and a more subdued accompaniment. The final movement is a lively gigue, a type of dance music characterized by its fast, lively rhythms. The singer returns to the joyful mood of the first movement, celebrating the pleasures of love and the beauty of her beloved's eyes. Overall, "Beaux petits yeux d'écarlate" is a charming and lively work that showcases Charpentier's skill in writing for the voice. The piece is notable for its playful melodies, expressive harmonies, and lively rhythms, which capture the joy and pain of love in equal measure.

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