Composer

:

Maurice Ravel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1925 - 1926

Average_duration

:

5:33

"Nahandove" is the first of three songs in the cycle "Chansons madécasses" composed by Maurice Ravel in 1925. The premiere of the cycle took place on May 6, 1926, in Paris, with the soprano Madeleine Grey, the cellist Maurice Maréchal, and the pianist Marcelle Meyer. The cycle is based on poems by Evariste de Parny, a French poet who was fascinated by the culture of Madagascar. The poems describe the life and customs of the Malagasy people, their love, their sorrows, and their struggles. Ravel's music captures the exotic and mysterious atmosphere of the island, with its lush vegetation, its colorful birds, and its vibrant rhythms. "Nahandove" is a slow and melancholic song, in which a young Malagasy woman laments the loss of her lover, who has been taken away by the French colonizers. The cello plays a prominent role in the accompaniment, evoking the sound of a traditional Malagasy instrument. The piano provides a delicate and shimmering background, with arpeggios and trills that suggest the rustling of leaves and the murmuring of a brook. The vocal line is characterized by long and expressive phrases, with a wide range of dynamics and colors. The soprano sings in French, but with a subtle inflection that suggests the Malagasy language. The text is full of poetic images, such as "the white bird of the sea" and "the black bird of the forest", which convey the beauty and the sadness of the young woman's feelings. Overall, "Nahandove" is a haunting and poignant song, which showcases Ravel's mastery of melody, harmony, and timbre. It is a testament to his fascination with exotic cultures and his ability to create music that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

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