Composer

:

César Franck

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Character Piece

Compose Date

:

1855

Publication Date

:

1904

Average_duration

:

1:49

"Les Plaintes d'une poupée" (The Lamentations of a Doll), M. 20 is a solo piano piece composed by César Franck in 1877. The piece was premiered on January 22, 1878, at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano. The piece consists of three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement, marked "Lento," is a mournful and melancholic lament, with a simple and repetitive melody that is gradually developed and embellished. The second movement, marked "Allegretto," is a playful and whimsical scherzo, with a lively and syncopated rhythm and a contrasting lyrical middle section. The third and final movement, marked "Lento," returns to the mournful mood of the first movement, with a more complex and expressive melody that builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet and resigned ending. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism and unconventional harmonies, which give it a distinctive and haunting quality. It also showcases Franck's skill as a pianist and his ability to create a wide range of moods and emotions through his music. Overall, "Les Plaintes d'une poupée" is a beautiful and evocative work that demonstrates Franck's mastery of the piano and his unique musical voice.

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