Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1937

Average_duration

:

3:07

Francis Poulenc's 'Nous avons fait la nuit' is a song cycle composed in 1938 for voice and piano. 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 vocalist. The cycle consists of five movements, each based on a poem by Paul Éluard. The first movement, 'Nous avons fait la nuit,' is a setting of Éluard's poem of the same name. The music is characterized by a haunting melody in the piano, which is then taken up by the voice. The vocal line is marked by long, sustained notes and a sense of melancholy. The second movement, 'Le matin les branches attisent,' is a more upbeat and lively setting of Éluard's poem. The piano accompaniment is marked by a driving rhythm, while the vocal line is characterized by a sense of urgency and excitement. The third movement, 'La fraîcheur et le feu,' is a slower, more contemplative setting of Éluard's poem. The piano accompaniment is marked by a gentle, flowing melody, while the vocal line is characterized by a sense of longing and nostalgia. The fourth movement, 'Nous avons fait la nuit,' is a more dramatic and intense setting of Éluard's poem. The piano accompaniment is marked by a series of dissonant chords, while the vocal line is characterized by a sense of anger and frustration. The final movement, 'Liberté,' is a triumphant setting of Éluard's famous poem of the same name. The piano accompaniment is marked by a series of bold, sweeping chords, while the vocal line is characterized by a sense of joy and exultation. Overall, 'Nous avons fait la nuit' is a powerful and emotionally charged work that showcases Poulenc's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of Éluard's poetry in music.

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