Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1947

Average_duration

:

1:32

'...mais mourir, FP 137' is a song cycle composed by Francis Poulenc in 1959. The premiere of the work took place on 22nd January 1960 in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Pierre Bernac as the soloist. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is based on a poem by Guillaume Apollinaire. The first movement, 'Banalités', is a setting of five poems that explore the themes of love, death, and the transience of life. The music is characterized by its simplicity and directness, with Poulenc's trademark use of diatonic harmonies and clear, memorable melodies. The second movement, 'Chanson d'Orkenise', is a hauntingly beautiful setting of a poem about a young girl who dies of tuberculosis. The music is spare and delicate, with a sense of fragility and vulnerability that perfectly captures the mood of the text. The third movement, 'Fêtes galantes', is a setting of three poems that evoke the world of the French aristocracy in the 18th century. The music is light and playful, with a sense of elegance and refinement that reflects the subject matter. The fourth movement, 'La Courte Paille', is a setting of seven poems that explore the world of childhood and innocence. The music is characterized by its simplicity and charm, with Poulenc's use of playful rhythms and childlike melodies. The final movement, 'L'histoire de Babar', is a setting of a children's story about a little elephant who goes on adventures and learns about the world. The music is whimsical and playful, with a sense of wonder and magic that perfectly captures the spirit of the story. Overall, '...mais mourir, FP 137' is a beautiful and poignant work that showcases Poulenc's gift for melody and his ability to capture the essence of a text in music. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of Apollinaire's poetry and a fitting tribute to one of the great poets of the 20th century.

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