Composer

:

Albert Roussel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1907 - 1908

Average_duration

:

4:22

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Albert Roussel's 'Poèmes chinois (2), Op. 12' is a two-movement work for voice and orchestra, composed in 1910. The piece was premiered on May 17, 1911, in Paris, with the composer conducting the orchestra. The first movement, titled 'Le jardin mouillé' (The Wet Garden), is a setting of a poem by Chinese poet Li-Tai-Po. The music is characterized by its lush orchestration, with colorful harmonies and delicate textures that evoke the imagery of a garden after a rain shower. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases that flow seamlessly with the orchestra. The movement ends with a quiet and introspective coda, as if the listener is left to contemplate the beauty of the garden. The second movement, titled 'Le reveil de la poupée' (The Awakening of the Doll), is a setting of a poem by French poet Maurice Maeterlinck. The music is more playful and whimsical than the first movement, with a lively and syncopated rhythm that suggests the movement of a toy doll. The vocal line is more fragmented and staccato, with sudden leaps and changes in dynamics that add to the sense of playfulness. The orchestra is used to great effect, with colorful and imaginative sounds that evoke the world of a child's imagination. Overall, 'Poèmes chinois (2), Op. 12' is a beautiful and evocative work that showcases Roussel's skill as an orchestrator and his sensitivity to poetry. The piece is a testament to the composer's interest in non-Western cultures and his desire to explore new musical ideas.

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