Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1870

Average_duration

:

3:07

"Si vous n'avez rien à me dire" is a song composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1901. It was premiered on May 4, 1901, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the famous French soprano Mary Garden as the soloist. The song is part of a collection of six mélodies for voice and piano, which Saint-Saëns composed in 1901. The other five songs are "La Coccinelle," "La Fiancée du Timbalier," "La Cloche," "La Brise," and "La Cigale et la Fourmi." All of them are based on poems by the French poet Jean Richepin. "Si vous n'avez rien à me dire" is a slow and melancholic song, with a simple and repetitive piano accompaniment that creates a sense of longing and emptiness. The vocal line is also simple and understated, with a range that never goes beyond a few notes. The lyrics are about a woman waiting for her lover to come back, but he never does, and she is left alone with her thoughts and her memories. The song is in ABA form, with the A section being the main melody and the B section providing a contrast in mood and texture. The A section is in the key of F-sharp minor and is marked "Très lent" (very slow). The B section is in the key of D major and is marked "Plus animé" (more animated). It features a more elaborate piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is more expressive and passionate. Overall, "Si vous n'avez rien à me dire" is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Saint-Saëns' mastery of melody and harmony. It is a perfect example of the French art song tradition, which emphasizes the beauty of the text and the simplicity of the music.

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