Composer

:

Louis Vierne

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

4:29

Louis Vierne's 'Baudelaire Poems (5), Op. 45: No. 1, Recueillement' is a song cycle composed in 1916. The premiere of the work took place on May 16, 1917, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Maurice Renaud as the soloist. The song cycle consists of five poems by Charles Baudelaire, a French poet of the 19th century. The first poem, 'Recueillement,' is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem's speaker reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human existence, ultimately finding solace in the idea of eternal rest. Vierne's setting of the poem is characterized by its somber, introspective mood. The piano accompaniment is spare and melancholic, with a repeating motif that evokes the tolling of a funeral bell. The vocal line is similarly restrained, with long, sustained notes that convey a sense of resignation and acceptance. Despite its mournful tone, 'Recueillement' is also marked by moments of beauty and transcendence. The final lines of the poem, in which the speaker imagines himself as a bird soaring above the earth, are set to a soaring melody that suggests a moment of spiritual release. Overall, Vierne's 'Baudelaire Poems' is a powerful and evocative work that captures the essence of Baudelaire's poetry while also showcasing the composer's skill as a songwriter. 'Recueillement,' in particular, stands out as a haunting and poignant meditation on the human condition.

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