Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1936

Average_duration

:

0:52

Je n'ai envie que de t'aimer, FP 86/7 is a song composed by Francis Poulenc in 1944. It was premiered on May 17, 1945, in Paris, by the soprano Denise Duval and the composer himself at the piano. The song is part of a cycle of seven songs called Métamorphoses, which Poulenc composed between 1943 and 1944, based on poems by Louise de Vilmorin. Je n'ai envie que de t'aimer is the sixth song of the cycle and is characterized by its simplicity and directness. The piano accompaniment is sparse and repetitive, creating a hypnotic effect that enhances the emotional intensity of the text. The vocal line is also simple and lyrical, with long phrases that convey the longing and desire expressed in the poem. The poem itself is a declaration of love, in which the speaker expresses her desire to love only one person, to the exclusion of all others. The text is full of sensual imagery, such as "I want to be the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat," which Poulenc sets to a melody that is both tender and passionate. The song is in ABA form, with the A section being a repetition of the opening phrase "Je n'ai envie que de t'aimer" (I only want to love you), and the B section introducing a new melody and text that expresses the speaker's desire to be with her beloved always. The song ends with a return to the A section, but with a slight variation in the piano accompaniment that adds a sense of finality and resolution. Overall, Je n'ai envie que de t'aimer is a beautiful example of Poulenc's ability to create music that is both simple and profound, conveying complex emotions with economy and elegance. It is a testament to his skill as a composer and his sensitivity as a human being.

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