Composer

:

Federico Mompou

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1972

Average_duration

:

13:37

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Federico Mompou's 'Cinq Mélodies on poems of Paul Valéry' is a song cycle composed for voice and piano. The cycle was composed in 1940 and premiered in Barcelona in the same year. The five movements of the cycle are titled 'Le front comme un drapeau perdu', 'Une ruine coquille vide', 'Le flambeau vivant', 'L'absente', and 'L'ange pleureur'. The cycle is characterized by Mompou's signature style of impressionistic harmonies and sparse textures. The piano accompaniment is often simple and repetitive, allowing the voice to take center stage. The vocal melodies are lyrical and expressive, with a focus on the natural inflections of the French language. The first movement, 'Le front comme un drapeau perdu', is a melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the loss of youth. The second movement, 'Une ruine coquille vide', is a haunting meditation on the ruins of a once-great civilization. The third movement, 'Le flambeau vivant', is a celebration of life and the beauty of the natural world. The fourth movement, 'L'absente', is a poignant lament for a lost love. The final movement, 'L'ange pleureur', is a mystical reflection on the nature of existence and the role of the artist in the world. Overall, 'Cinq Mélodies on poems of Paul Valéry' is a beautiful and introspective work that showcases Mompou's unique musical voice. The cycle is a testament to the power of simplicity and the beauty of the human voice.

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