Composer

:

Francis Poulenc

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

1:39

Les anges musiciens, FP 178/5 is a choral work composed by Francis Poulenc in 1944. It was premiered on December 17, 1944, at the Église Saint-Roch in Paris, France. The piece is part of Poulenc's larger work, Figure humaine, which is a cantata for double choir a cappella. Les anges musiciens is the fifth movement of Figure humaine and is written for a double choir of mixed voices. The text is a poem by Paul Éluard, which describes the angels playing music in heaven. The music is characterized by its ethereal and otherworldly quality, with the voices of the choir blending together to create a celestial sound. The piece begins with a soft and gentle melody sung by the sopranos, which is then echoed by the altos. The tenors and basses enter with a more rhythmic and percussive section, which provides a contrast to the ethereal opening. The two choirs then alternate between these two sections, with the music gradually building in intensity and complexity. The climax of the piece comes with a section where the two choirs sing different melodies simultaneously, creating a complex and intricate texture. The music then gradually fades away, with the sopranos and altos returning to the gentle melody from the beginning. Overall, Les anges musiciens is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that showcases Poulenc's skill as a composer. Its ethereal quality and intricate harmonies make it a favorite among choral groups and audiences alike.

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