Composer

:

Witold Lutosławski

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1991

Average_duration

:

19:42

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

Witold Lutosławski's 'Chantefleurs et Chantefables' is a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, composed in 1989. The premiere of the work was given on 28 September 1991, by the soprano Dawn Upshaw and the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the composer himself. The work consists of nine movements, each based on a poem by the French poet Robert Desnos. The poems are whimsical and surreal, and Lutosławski's music captures their playful and fantastical nature. The composer's use of orchestration is particularly noteworthy, with each movement featuring a different combination of instruments and textures. The first movement, 'La Belle-de-nuit', is a lively and rhythmic piece, featuring a prominent percussion section and a playful melody. The second movement, 'La Sauterelle', is more subdued, with a delicate and intricate orchestration that evokes the movement of a grasshopper. The third movement, 'La Véronique', is a haunting and atmospheric piece, with a sparse and eerie orchestration. The fourth movement, 'La Tortue', is a humorous and lighthearted piece, with a jaunty melody and a playful orchestration that includes a prominent bassoon solo. The fifth movement, 'La Rose', is a lush and romantic piece, with a soaring melody and a rich orchestration that includes a prominent harp solo. The sixth movement, 'La Chauve-souris', is a dark and mysterious piece, with a brooding orchestration that evokes the flight of a bat. The seventh movement, 'La Sérénade', is a tender and lyrical piece, with a gentle melody and a delicate orchestration that includes a prominent solo violin. The eighth movement, 'La Grenouille', is a lively and energetic piece, with a playful melody and a lively orchestration that includes a prominent clarinet solo. The final movement, 'Le Papillon', is a joyful and exuberant piece, with a lively and celebratory orchestration that evokes the flight of a butterfly. Overall, 'Chantefleurs et Chantefables' is a charming and whimsical work, showcasing Lutosławski's skillful orchestration and his ability to capture the playful and fantastical nature of Desnos' poetry.

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