Composer

:

Louis Vierne

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:39

Louis Vierne's "Baudelaire Poems (5), Op. 45: No. 3, Le Flambeau vivant" is a song cycle composed in 1916. The premiere of the work took place on May 7, 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. "Le Flambeau vivant" is the third poem in the cycle and is characterized by its dark and haunting tone. The poem describes a man who is consumed by his own passions and desires, which are likened to a living torch that burns him from within. Vierne's setting of the poem captures the intensity and drama of Baudelaire's words. The piano accompaniment is full of dissonant chords and restless rhythms, creating a sense of unease and tension. The vocal line is equally dramatic, with wide leaps and sudden shifts in dynamics. The song is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct character. The first section is slow and mournful, with the voice and piano in unison. The second section is faster and more agitated, with the piano taking on a more prominent role. The final section returns to the slower tempo of the opening, but with a sense of resignation and acceptance. Overall, "Le Flambeau vivant" is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Vierne's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of Baudelaire's poetry.

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