Composer

:

Albert Roussel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1919

Average_duration

:

4:59

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Albert Roussel's 'Mélodies (2), Op. 20' is a set of two songs composed for voice and piano. The work was composed in 1910 and premiered in Paris in the same year. The two movements of the work are titled 'Le bachelier de Salamanque' and 'Le jardin mouillé'. The first movement, 'Le bachelier de Salamanque', is a setting of a poem by Théophile Gautier. The poem tells the story of a young student who falls in love with a beautiful woman, only to discover that she is a ghost. Roussel's setting of the poem is characterized by its flowing, lyrical melody and its rich, harmonically complex piano accompaniment. The vocal line is expressive and dramatic, with frequent shifts in dynamics and tempo. The second movement, 'Le jardin mouillé', is a setting of a poem by Paul Verlaine. The poem describes a garden after a rainstorm, with the flowers and trees glistening in the sunlight. Roussel's setting of the poem is characterized by its delicate, impressionistic piano accompaniment and its soaring, lyrical vocal line. The melody is fluid and expressive, with frequent shifts in tempo and dynamics. Overall, 'Mélodies (2), Op. 20' is a beautiful and expressive work that showcases Roussel's skill as a composer of vocal music. The two movements are united by their lyrical melodies and rich, harmonically complex piano accompaniments, but each has its own distinct character and mood. The work is a testament to Roussel's ability to capture the emotional essence of a poem and translate it into music.

More....