Banalités (FP 107) is a set of five mélodies for voice and piano composed by Francis Poulenc in 1940 on poems by Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918).
History of the work edit
Composed in 1940, the mélodies were premiered at salle Gaveau, on 14 December 1940, by Pierre Bernac (baritone) and the composer (piano).[1]
Titles edit
- Chanson d’Orkenise
- Hôtel
- Fagnes de Wallonie
- Voyage à Paris
- Sanglots
Source of the poems edit
"Chanson d'Orkenise", "Fagnes de Wallonie" and "Sanglots" are taken from the collection Il y a[2] (1925).
"Hôtel", written in 1913, was published in the posthumous collection Le Guetteur mélancolique[3] (1952). "Voyage à Paris" was published in the Poèmes retrouvés from the Œuvres poétiques by Apollinaire in 1956.
Dedicatees edit
"Chanson d'Orkenise" is dedicated to Claude Rostand, "Hôtel" to Marthe Bosredon,[4] "Fagnes de Wallonie" to Ms. Henri Frédéricq, "Voyage à Paris" to Paul Éluard, and "Sanglots" to Suzette Chanlaire.[5][1]
Discography edit
- Pierre Bernac (baritone) and Francis Poulenc (piano) in 1950 (Naxos).
- 1 and 2: Régine Crespin (soprano) and John Wustman (piano) in 1967 (Decca).
- Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto) and Inger Södergren (piano) (RCA).
- Michel Piquemal (baritone) and Christine Lajarrige[6] (piano) (Naxos).
- Véronique Gens (soprano) and Roger Vignoles (piano) (Erato).
Quote edit
- One song by the band Pink Martini, "Sympathique",[7] is inspired by the poem "Hotel" by Apollinaire and its setting to music by Poulenc.
References edit
- ^ a b Banalités Archived 2013-12-18 at the Wayback Machine on Bibliothèque nationale de France
- ^ Il y a de Guillaume Apollinaire on Anthologie de la poésie d'amour
- ^ Le Guetteur mélancolique on Babelio
- ^ Marthe Bosredon on Data.bnf.fr
- ^ Suzette Chanlaire on Data.bnf.fr
- ^ Chistine Lajarrigue on concerts.fr/Biographie
- ^ Sympathique (je ne veux pas travailler) on YouTube
External links edit
- Banalités on IMSLP
- Pierre Bernac sings "Banalites" of Poulenc with Poulenc on YouTube
