La chanson d'Ève
Encyclopedia
La chanson d'Ève, Op. 95, is a song cycle
by Gabriel Fauré
, of ten mélodie
s for voice and piano
. Composed during 1906–10, it is based on the collection of poetry of the same name by Charles van Lerberghe
. It is Fauré's longest song cycle.
. The songs were composed over the period June 1906 to January 1910. "Crépuscule" came first, in June 1906; its origin was as a re-setting of the music of "Mélisande's Song". The latter, an 1898 setting for voice of "La chanson de Mélisande" from Act 3 of Fauré's Pelléas et Mélisande
, was his only setting of a text in English
.
Fauré only conceived the idea of a song cycle after "Crépuscule" had been published as an independent song. The composition of "Paradis" and "Prima verba" followed in September, while Faure was visiting Stresa
and Lausanne
. "Roses ardentes" and "L'aube blanche" came in June 1908, and the rest was composed from July 1909. Over these years, Fauré was also working on his opera
Pénélope
.
d were "Paradis", "Prima verba" and "Crépuscule", on 18 March 1908 at the Bechstein Hall
, sung by Jeanne Raunay. The pianist was Fauré. On 26 May 1909 at the Salle Érard, Raunay and Fauré premiered "Roses ardentes", "Comme Dieu rayonne", "L'aube blanche" and "Eau vivante", as well as performing the three earlier songs.
Raunay and Fauré premiered the complete cycle on 20 April 1910 at the first concert of the newly formed Société Musicale Indépendante. This occasion also saw the premieres of Claude Debussy
's D'un cahier d'esquisses and Maurice Ravel
's Ma mère l'oye
. Ravel wrote to Fauré the next day that he had been extremely moved by Fauré's cycle.
The complete song cycle was published by Heugel in 1911, dedicated to Jeanne Raunay.
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...
by Gabriel Fauré
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...
, of ten 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...
. Composed during 1906–10, it is based on the collection of poetry of the same name by Charles van Lerberghe
Charles van Lerberghe
Charles van Lerberghe was a Flemish symbolist poet writing in French.His poetry was set by Gabriel Fauré in the song cycles La chanson d'Ève and Le jardin clos....
. It is Fauré's longest song cycle.
Composition
Fauré was introduced to van Lerberghe's poems by Octave MausOctave Maus
Octave Maus was a Belgian art critic, writer, and lawyer.Maus worked with fellow writer/lawyer Edmond Picard, and they together with Victor Arnould and Eugène Robert founded the weekly L'Art moderne in 1881....
. The songs were composed over the period June 1906 to January 1910. "Crépuscule" came first, in June 1906; its origin was as a re-setting of the music of "Mélisande's Song". The latter, an 1898 setting for voice of "La chanson de Mélisande" from Act 3 of Fauré's Pelléas et Mélisande
Pelléas et Mélisande (Fauré)
Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 80 is a suite derived from incidental music by Gabriel Fauré for Maurice Maeterlinck's play of the same name. He was the first of four leading composers to write music inspired by Maeterlinck's drama...
, was his only setting of a text in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Fauré only conceived the idea of a song cycle after "Crépuscule" had been published as an independent song. The composition of "Paradis" and "Prima verba" followed in September, while Faure was visiting Stresa
Stresa
Stresa is a town and comune of about 5,000 inhabitants on the shores of the Lago Maggiore in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy; it is situated on the road and rail routes to the Simplon pass, about 90 km north-west of Milan. Since the early 20th century, the main source of income has been the...
and Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
. "Roses ardentes" and "L'aube blanche" came in June 1908, and the rest was composed from July 1909. Over these years, Fauré was also working on his opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
Pénélope
Pénélope
Pénélope is an opera in three acts by the French composer Gabriel Fauré. The libretto, by René Fauchois, is based on Homer's Odyssey. It was first performed at the Salle Garnier, Monte Carlo on 4 March 1913.-Background and performance history:...
.
Settings
Fauré's settings, selected from three of the four sections of van Lerberghe's collection, are as follows:- "Paradis" (from Premières paroles)
- "Prima verba" (from Premières paroles)
- "Roses ardentes" (from Premières paroles)
- "Comme Dieu rayonne" (from Premières paroles)
- "L'aube blanche" (from Premières paroles)
- "Eau vivante" (from Premières paroles)
- "Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil?" (from La tentation)
- "Dans un parfum de roses blanches" (from Premières paroles)
- "Crépuscule" (from Crépuscule)
- "O mort, poussière d'étoiles" (from Crépuscule)
Premieres
The first songs to be 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...
d were "Paradis", "Prima verba" and "Crépuscule", on 18 March 1908 at the Bechstein Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, sung by Jeanne Raunay. The pianist was Fauré. On 26 May 1909 at the Salle Érard, Raunay and Fauré premiered "Roses ardentes", "Comme Dieu rayonne", "L'aube blanche" and "Eau vivante", as well as performing the three earlier songs.
Raunay and Fauré premiered the complete cycle on 20 April 1910 at the first concert of the newly formed Société Musicale Indépendante. This occasion also saw the premieres of 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...
's D'un cahier d'esquisses and Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
's Ma mère l'oye
Ma Mère l'Oye
Ma mère l'oye is a musical work by French composer Maurice Ravel.-Piano versions:Ravel originally wrote Ma mère l'oye as a piano duet for the Godebski children, Mimi and Jean, ages 6 and 7. Ravel dedicated this work for four hands to the children...
. Ravel wrote to Fauré the next day that he had been extremely moved by Fauré's cycle.
The complete song cycle was published by Heugel in 1911, dedicated to Jeanne Raunay.
External links
- French texts and English translations, at The Lied, Art Song, and Choral Texts Page