Composer

:

Albert Roussel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1933 - 1934

Average_duration

:

6:35

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Albert Roussel's 'Mélodies (2), Op. 50' is a set of two songs composed for voice and piano. The work was completed in 1924 and premiered on May 22, 1925, in Paris. The two movements are titled "Le Jardin mouillé" and "Le Bachelier de Salamanque." The first movement, "Le Jardin mouillé," is a setting of a poem by Paul-Jean Toulet. The text describes a garden after a rainstorm, with the flowers and trees glistening in the sunlight. Roussel's music captures the mood of the poem with its delicate, shimmering piano accompaniment and lyrical vocal line. The melody is characterized by its fluidity and grace, with the singer's voice soaring and dipping in response to the text. The second movement, "Le Bachelier de Salamanque," is based on a poem by Théophile Gautier. The text tells the story of a young man who travels to Salamanca to study, only to fall in love with a beautiful woman and abandon his studies. Roussel's music captures the drama of the poem with its bold, declamatory vocal line and driving piano accompaniment. The melody is characterized by its rhythmic energy and intensity, with the singer's voice rising to a climax before subsiding into a quiet, reflective coda. Overall, 'Mélodies (2), Op. 50' is a masterful example of Roussel's skill as a composer of vocal music. The two movements showcase his ability to capture the mood and meaning of a text through his music, while also demonstrating his command of melody, harmony, and rhythm. The work remains a beloved part of the vocal repertoire and a testament to Roussel's enduring legacy as a composer.

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