The art of music, Vol. 05 (of 14) : $b The voice and vocal music
History
The art of music, Vol. 05 (of 14) : $b The voice and vocal music
Music -- History and criticism; Musicians
The song called ‘The Captive’ (three versions of it exist) is one of
the best known and one of the simplest. Here Berlioz has been content
with a conventional accompaniment and has spent his effort on the
melody--an irregular and somewhat arbitrary melody, but one with a
certain aristocratic charm which the singer must find for himself.
The ‘Villanelle’ is perhaps the best of all. Here the originality of
Berlioz’s genius finds expression within very narrow limits. The simple
old form is combined with a harmonic energy that is admirable. ‘In the
Graveyard’ is a study in the tragic mood, unconventional, needless
to say, and thoroughly successful. Other songs which deserve mention
are: ‘I Believe in Thee,’ a sentimental love song; ‘On the Lagoon,’ a
slow barcarolle in six-eight time; and ‘Zaïde,’ a bolero that is highly
effective for concert use.
François Louis Hippolyte Monpou (born 1804; died 1841) was the
recognized song-writer of the romantic movement. He is now little
more than a historical fact. In his early years he was an organist
and conductor of church music, but his ability was not marked and he
drifted looking for something to do. He gained some local fame in 1828
from his three-part setting of Béranger’s _Si j’étais petit oiseau_ and
was taken up in the drawing rooms as a representative of the romantic
school. He took the drawing room verdict seriously and turned out a
number of songs to the words of Hugo, Musset, Béranger, and others. His
songs had a certain popular quality and an effect of boldness which
suited the fancy of the romantic school. But his musicianship was
faulty and his harmony and rhythm were awkward and unresourceful. After
he became established as a song-writer he took to doing operas, some of
which are melodically effective and dramatically vigorous.
II
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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