Composer

:

Reynaldo Hahn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1893

Average_duration

:

2:35

Reynaldo Hahn's 'Cimetière de campagne' is a song cycle composed in 1900. It premiered in Paris in the same year. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Paul Verlaine. The first movement, 'La mer est plus belle', is a melancholic reflection on the beauty of the sea and the transience of life. The second movement, 'Le son du cor s'afflige vers les bois', is a haunting depiction of a hunter's horn echoing through the forest. The third movement, 'L'heure exquise', is a tender love song that captures the fleeting nature of happiness. The fourth movement, 'Dans la nuit', is a dark and brooding piece that evokes the sense of being lost in the night. The fifth movement, 'Paysage triste', is a mournful reflection on the desolate landscape of a cemetery. The final movement, 'Adieu', is a poignant farewell that expresses the pain of parting. Hahn's music is characterized by its lyrical beauty and sensitivity to the text. He uses a variety of musical techniques to capture the mood and meaning of Verlaine's poetry, including chromaticism, modulations, and expressive vocal lines. The piano accompaniment is also highly expressive, with rich harmonies and delicate textures that support and enhance the vocal line. Overall, 'Cimetière de campagne' is a powerful and evocative song cycle that showcases Hahn's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of Verlaine's poetry. Its themes of love, loss, and transience are timeless and universal, making it a work that continues to resonate with audiences today.

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