Composer

:

Hector Berlioz

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

Sep 1841

Average_duration

:

5:33

Hector Berlioz's "Au cimetière, Clair de lune" is a song from his song cycle "Les nuits d'été" (Summer Nights), Op. 7. The song was composed in 1840 and premiered in 1841. The song cycle consists of six songs, each with its own distinct character and mood. "Au cimetière, Clair de lune" is the fifth song in the cycle. The song is set to a poem by Théophile Gautier, which describes a visit to a cemetery on a moonlit night. The music is haunting and melancholic, with a sense of longing and nostalgia. The song is in the key of G minor and is written for voice and piano. The song is divided into three distinct sections. The first section is slow and mournful, with the voice singing a melody that is full of sorrow and longing. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with simple chords that provide a sense of space and emptiness. The second section is faster and more agitated, with the voice singing a melody that is more urgent and passionate. The piano accompaniment is more complex, with arpeggios and runs that create a sense of movement and energy. The third section returns to the slow and mournful mood of the first section, with the voice singing a melody that is more subdued and introspective. The piano accompaniment is once again sparse, with simple chords that provide a sense of closure and finality. Overall, "Au cimetière, Clair de lune" is a beautiful and haunting song that captures the mood of a moonlit night in a cemetery. The music is full of longing and nostalgia, with a sense of sadness and loss that is both poignant and moving.

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