Composer

:

Germaine Tailleferre

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1952 - 1955

Publication Date

:

1955

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Germaine Tailleferre's 'Chansons du Folklore de France' is a collection of six songs for voice and piano, composed in 1948. The premiere of the work took place on May 12, 1949, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with the composer herself at the piano and the soprano Denise Duval as the soloist. The six movements of the work are based on traditional French folk songs, which Tailleferre arranged and harmonized in her own unique style. The first song, 'Le roi a fait battre tambour', is a lively and rhythmic tune that tells the story of a king who orders his drum to be beaten to announce his arrival. The second song, 'Il était une bergère', is a gentle and pastoral melody about a shepherdess and her sheep. The third song, 'J'ai descendu dans mon jardin', is a playful and flirtatious tune about a young woman who goes into her garden to pick flowers and encounters a handsome young man. The fourth song, 'Sur le pont d'Avignon', is a well-known French folk song about dancing on a bridge in the city of Avignon. The fifth song, 'En passant par la Lorraine', is a march-like tune that tells the story of a soldier who is returning home from war. The final song, 'Ah! Mon beau château', is a lively and humorous tune about a young woman who dreams of marrying a prince and living in a castle. Tailleferre's arrangements of these folk songs are characterized by her use of colorful harmonies and inventive rhythms, which give the traditional melodies a fresh and modern sound. The songs are also notable for their clear and simple vocal lines, which allow the beauty of the original folk tunes to shine through. Overall, 'Chansons du Folklore de France' is a charming and delightful work that showcases Tailleferre's skill as a composer and her love for the rich musical traditions of her native country.

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