La bonne chanson (Fauré)
Encyclopedia
La bonne chanson, Op. 61, by Gabriel Fauré
, is a song cycle
of nine mélodie
s for voice and piano
. He composed it during 1892–94; in 1898 he created a version for voice, piano and string quintet
. The cycle is based on nine of the poems from the collection of the same name
by Paul Verlaine
. According to Fauré himself, the song cycle contains a number of musical themes
which recur from song to song. He had devised this technique for the 1891 song cycle Cinq mélodies "de Venise"
, which was also based on Verlaine's poetry.
, as the guest of the banker Sigismond Bardac and his wife, the soprano Emma Bardac
. Fauré was in love with her (although she later married Claude Debussy
). Fauré wrote later that the cycle was his most spontaneous creation, with Bardac singing the newly composed material for him each day. The final song, "L'hiver a cessé", was completed in February 1894, and the cycle was published by Hamelle that year, with a dedication to Emma Bardac.
In a 1902 interview conducted by Louis Aguettant for Le Courrier musical, Fauré enumerated five main musical themes which recur throughout the cycle until they appear together in the final song, "L'hiver a cessé". One of these themes was taken from his earlier mélodie "Lydia", Op. 4, No. 2 (c. 1870); Fauré stated that he associated this theme with a singer, possibly meaning Emma Bardac.
Fauré's ordering of the settings does not correspond to that of their appearances within Verlaine's collection of 21 poems.
at the residence of the Countess de Saussine on 25 April 1894, sung by Maurice Bagès. Its first public performance was at the Société Nationale de Musique
on 20 April 1895, sung by Jeanne Remacle. Fauré was the pianist. The work was not well received by the musically conservative audience. Camille Saint-Saëns
declared that Fauré had gone mad. In contrast, Marcel Proust
, who was at the private premiere in 1894, wrote that he adored it.
The string quintet version was premiered in London
, on 1 April 1898 at the house of Leo Frank Schuster
, with Bagès and Fauré performing.
In 1918 Fauré adapted and extended a brief section from "Une sainte en son auréole" to produce Une châtelaine en sa tour, Op. 110, a work for solo harp
dedicated to the harpist Micheline Kahn. She premiered the work at the Société Nationale de Musique on 30 November 1918.
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
, is a song cycle
Song cycle
A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a single entity. As a rule, all of the songs are by the same composer and often use words from the same poet or lyricist. Unification can be achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the songs, or even, as in Schumann's...
of nine mélodie
Mélodie
Mélodie refers to French art songs of the mid-19th century to the present; it is the French equivalent of the German Lied. It is distinguished from a chanson, which is a folk or popular song.-Nature of the mélodie:...
s for voice and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He composed it during 1892–94; in 1898 he created a version for voice, piano and string quintet
String quintet
A string quintet is a musical composition for a standard string quartet supplemented by a fifth string instrument, usually a second viola or a second cello , but occasionally a double bass. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who favoured addition of a viola, is considered a pioneer of the form...
. The cycle is based on nine of the poems from the collection of the same name
La Bonne Chanson
La bonne chanson is a collection of poems written by Paul Verlaine from the winter of 1869 to the spring of 1870. Twenty-one poems belong to this group, and are addressed to sixteen-year-old Mathilde Mauté de Fleurville, who he married in the same year .The poems are a proclamation of love, using...
by Paul Verlaine
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.-Early life:...
. According to Fauré himself, the song cycle contains a number of musical themes
Theme (music)
In music, a theme is the material, usually a recognizable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based.-Characteristics:A theme may be perceivable as a complete musical expression in itself, separate from the work in which it is found . In contrast to an idea or motif, a theme is...
which recur from song to song. He had devised this technique for the 1891 song cycle Cinq mélodies "de Venise"
Cinq mélodies "de Venise"
Cinq mélodies "de Venise", Op. 58, is a song cycle by Gabriel Fauré, of five mélodies for voice and piano. Composed in 1891, the cycle is based on five poems by Paul Verlaine, from the collections Fêtes galantes and Romances sans paroles. According to Fauré himself, the song cycle contains a...
, which was also based on Verlaine's poetry.
Composition
Much of the cycle was composed in the summers of 1892 and 1893 while Fauré was staying in BougivalBougival
Bougival is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center....
, as the guest of the banker Sigismond Bardac and his wife, the soprano Emma Bardac
Emma Bardac
Emma Bardac , née Moyse, was the mutual love interest of both Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy. Of Jewish descent, Emma married, aged 17, Parisian banker Sigismond Bardac, by whom she had two children, Raoul, and Hélène . Emma was an accomplished singer and brilliant conversationalist...
. Fauré was in love with her (although she later married Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
). Fauré wrote later that the cycle was his most spontaneous creation, with Bardac singing the newly composed material for him each day. The final song, "L'hiver a cessé", was completed in February 1894, and the cycle was published by Hamelle that year, with a dedication to Emma Bardac.
In a 1902 interview conducted by Louis Aguettant for Le Courrier musical, Fauré enumerated five main musical themes which recur throughout the cycle until they appear together in the final song, "L'hiver a cessé". One of these themes was taken from his earlier mélodie "Lydia", Op. 4, No. 2 (c. 1870); Fauré stated that he associated this theme with a singer, possibly meaning Emma Bardac.
Settings
Fauré's settings are as follows:- "Une sainte en son auréole"
- "Puisque l'aube grandit"
- "La lune blanche luit dans les bois"
- "J'allais par des chemins perfides"
- "J'ai presque peur, en vérité"
- "Avant que tu ne t'en ailles"
- "Donc, ce sera par un clair jour d'été"
- "N'est-ce pas?"
- "L'hiver a cessé"
Fauré's ordering of the settings does not correspond to that of their appearances within Verlaine's collection of 21 poems.
Premieres
La bonne chanson had a private premierePremiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
at the residence of the Countess de Saussine on 25 April 1894, sung by Maurice Bagès. Its first public performance was at the Société Nationale de Musique
Société Nationale de Musique
The Société Nationale de Musique was founded on February 25, 1871 to promote French music and to allow young composers to present their music in public...
on 20 April 1895, sung by Jeanne Remacle. Fauré was the pianist. The work was not well received by the musically conservative audience. Camille Saint-Saëns
Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns was a French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist. He is known especially for The Carnival of the Animals, Danse macabre, Samson and Delilah, Piano Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1, Havanaise, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and his Symphony...
declared that Fauré had gone mad. In contrast, Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
, who was at the private premiere in 1894, wrote that he adored it.
The string quintet version was premiered in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 1 April 1898 at the house of Leo Frank Schuster
Leo Frank Schuster
Leo Frank Schuster , was a patron of the arts in the United Kingdom, normally known to his friends as "Frankie". His home at 22 Old Queen Street, London, became a meeting-place for artists, writers and musicians, including Siegfried Sassoon, John Singer Sargent, Walter Sickert, Sir Edward Elgar...
, with Bagès and Fauré performing.
In 1918 Fauré adapted and extended a brief section from "Une sainte en son auréole" to produce Une châtelaine en sa tour, Op. 110, a work for solo harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
dedicated to the harpist Micheline Kahn. She premiered the work at the Société Nationale de Musique on 30 November 1918.
Recordings
- Gabriel Fauré: Lieder Bernard Kruysen and Noël LeeNoël LeeNoël Lee is an American classical pianist and composer living in Paris, France.He studied music in Lafayette, Indiana, then attended Harvard University, studying with Walter Piston, Irving Fine, and Tillman Merritt and was also a student at the Longy School of Music in the early 1940s...
- La Bonne Chanson: French Chamber Songs Anne Sofie von Otter et al. (string quintet version). Deutsche Grammophon
- Mélodies Francaises Wolfgang HolzmairWolfgang HolzmairWolfgang Holzmair is an Austrian baritone.Holzmair studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He won 2nd prize in the baritone class of the 's-Hertogenbosch International Vocal Competition in 1981, and a year later 1st prize in the Musikverein International Lieder Competition,...
and Gerard Wyss. Philips (1996) - Fauré, Duparc: Mélodies Hugues CuénodHugues CuénodHugues-Adhémar Cuénod was a Swiss tenor known for his performances in opera, operetta, both traditional and musical theatre, and on the concert stage, where he was particularly known for his light, romantic and expressive interpretation of mélodie...
with Martin Isepp (piano version). Nimbus Records - Songs Charles PanzéraCharles PanzéraCharles [Auguste Louis] Panzéra was a Swiss operatic and concert baritone.-Overview:Panzéra's studies at the Paris Conservatory under the tuition of Amédée-Louis Hettich were interrupted by his volunteering into the French Army during World War I...
with Magdeleine Panzéra-Baillot and Alfred Cortot. - Songs of Fauré, Debussy & Poulenc Ian BostridgeIan BostridgeIan Bostridge CBE is an English tenor, well known for his performances as an opera singer and as a song recitalist.-Early life and education:...
with Julius Drake, Belcea Quartet and Leon Bosch.
External links
- French texts and English translations at The Lied, Art Song, and Choral Texts Page