Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1943

Average_duration

:

18:24

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Figure humaine, FP 120 is a choral work composed by Francis Poulenc in 1943. It was written during the Nazi occupation of France and was dedicated to the memory of the French Resistance. The piece is divided into twelve movements and is considered one of Poulenc's most significant works. The premiere of Figure humaine took place on 18 March 1945 in Geneva, Switzerland, conducted by Ernest Ansermet. The work was performed by the Choeur de la Radio Suisse Romande, and it was an immediate success. The piece was later performed in Paris on 2 June 1945, conducted by Georges Tzipine. The twelve movements of Figure humaine are as follows: 1. De tous les printemps du monde 2. Nous avons fait la nuit 3. Combat de mort 4. L'étoile a pleuré rose 5. Pour une nuit d'amour 6. La menace sous le ciel rouge 7. Liberte 8. La colombe poignardée 9. Unis par la douleur 10. Figures de force brûlante et farouche 11. Aussi bas que le silence 12. Patience The work is characterized by its emotional intensity and its use of dissonance and chromaticism. Poulenc's use of harmony and rhythm is particularly effective in conveying the sense of struggle and defiance that is central to the piece. The text, written by the French poet Paul Éluard, is a powerful expression of resistance and hope in the face of oppression. Figure humaine is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of art to inspire and uplift. It remains one of Poulenc's most enduring works and a masterpiece of choral music.

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