Composer

:

Jean Françaix

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

7:33

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Jean Françaix's "Trois Poëmes de Paul Valéry" is a song cycle composed in 1938. The premiere of the work took place on May 17, 1939, in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Pierre Bernac as the soloist. The cycle consists of three movements, each based on a poem by the French poet Paul Valéry. The first movement, "Le Cimetière marin," is a setting of Valéry's famous poem of the same name. The music is characterized by a hauntingly beautiful melody that is passed between the voice and piano. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, creating a sense of space and stillness that reflects the poem's contemplative mood. The second movement, "Le Colloque sentimental," is a duet for voice and piano. The music is playful and light-hearted, with a lively piano accompaniment that dances around the voice. The vocal lines are characterized by intricate rhythms and playful melodic turns, reflecting the poem's witty and ironic tone. The final movement, "L'Absent," is a somber and introspective setting of Valéry's poem about loss and absence. The music is characterized by a mournful melody that is passed between the voice and piano. The piano accompaniment is sparse and atmospheric, creating a sense of emptiness and longing that reflects the poem's melancholic mood. Overall, "Trois Poëmes de Paul Valéry" is a masterful example of Françaix's skill as a composer of vocal music. The cycle showcases his ability to create music that is both expressive and technically demanding, while also capturing the essence of Valéry's poetry.

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