Composer

:

Joseph Canteloube

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:30

"Ou irai-je me plaindre?" is a song composed by Joseph Canteloube, a French composer and musicologist. The song is part of his collection of folk songs from the Auvergne region of France, known as "Chants d'Auvergne." The collection consists of traditional songs that Canteloube arranged for voice and orchestra. "Ou irai-je me plaindre?" is the eighth song in the collection and is sung in the Auvergnat dialect. The song's title translates to "Where shall I go to complain?" The song is a lament, with the singer expressing their sorrow and asking where they can go to find solace. The song premiered in 1923, with the first recording made by the French soprano Madeleine Grey in 1926. The song has since been recorded by many other artists, including Kiri Te Kanawa and Victoria de los Angeles. The song is in a slow tempo and is characterized by its haunting melody and melancholic mood. The orchestration is sparse, with the voice accompanied by a simple piano or harp. The song's melody is based on a traditional Auvergne tune, which Canteloube arranged and harmonized. The song is in a ternary form, with a simple ABA structure. The first section is in a minor key and sets the mournful tone of the song. The middle section is in a major key and provides a brief respite from the sadness. The final section returns to the minor key and ends the song on a melancholic note. Overall, "Ou irai-je me plaindre?" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the essence of the Auvergne folk tradition. Canteloube's arrangement and orchestration highlight the beauty of the melody and the emotional depth of the lyrics.

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