MUSIC 183
French Art Song Interpretation
Spring, 2005
This course is designed for advanced singers and pianists to work together as collaborative duos. You
will interpret and perform masterpieces from the French Art Song (Mélodie) repertoire.
Instructor:
Laura Dahl
Office: Braun 222
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 725-2699
Office hours: by appointment
Lecture Time/Place: Wednesdays, 2:30-4pm, Campbell Recital Hall, Braun Music Building
Scope and Objective
This course deals with the practical aspects of the interpretation and performance of French song
literature. You will learn to develop the many skills needed for successful and satisfying collaboration
with different musical partners. Your musical ear will be fine-tuned in matters of rhythm, phrasing (in
poetry as well as music), balance, dynamics, and colors. Matters of facility, diction and translation will
be addressed in the context of performance and interpretive skills. Recommended prerequisite courses
are M182 Diction for Singers (singers) and M 170 Collaborative Piano (pianists).
Conduct of the Course
There will be regular homework (including preparation of musical scores, listening assignments, and
translation of foreign texts) as pertains to in-class performance of songs in a master-class type situation.
There will be no final exam, per se, but there will be a final class recital to take place on Saturday, June
7th, 2:30pm, consisting of the best examples of your work over the quarter. Performance in this final
recital is mandatory. Your final grade will depend on a variety of factors, including attendance (whether
or not you are performing), preparation, and personal progress throughout the quarter.
Course Materials
All music will be on reserve in the music library (in the correct keys!), as well as a large number of
reference books to aid you in translation and pronunciation as well as interpretation. These include The
Interpretation of French Song, Masters of the French Art Song, The Singer's Debussy, The Poetic
Debussy, Francis Poulenc: The Man and his Songs, etc.
Day Composer Music Performers
03-30 Course overview and assignment of repertoire
04-06 Berlioz Villanelle, Les nuits d’éte (Amaj) Anna/Laurel
Gounod Viens! Les gazons sont verts! (Fmaj) Roselyn/Laura
Sérénade (Fmaj) Liz/Laura
Liszt O quand je dors (Emaj) Georgia/Noriko
04-13 Chausson Sérénade italienne (Bmaj) Ann/Laurel
Le colibri (Dbmaj) Moon/Noriko
Duparc Chanson triste (Cmaj) Reed/David
Le manoir de Rosemonde (Bmin) Benj/Jeff
04-20 Fauré Les berceaux (cmin-high key) Anna/Jeff
Après un rêve (dmin) Roselyn/Laurel
La lune blanche luit dans les bois (f#maj) Liz/Noriko
Fleur jetée (Fmin) OR Georgia/David
Notre amour (Emaj:high key) (pianist’s decision….)
4.27 Fauré Automne (cmin) Benj/Laurel
Prison (Ebmin) Reed/Noriko
Debussy Clair de lune (F#maj): 4 Chansons de jeunesse Moon/Jeff
Romance: L’âme évaporée (Dmaj) Ann/David
05-04 Debussy Pierrot (Emin): 4 Chansons de jeunesse Georgia/Jeff
Green (Gb): Ariettes Oubliées OR Roselyn/David
Fantoches (Amin): Fêtes Galantes (I)
Ravel Cinque Melodies Populaires Grecques:
I. Le réveil de la mariée (Gmin) AND Anna/Noriko
II. Là bas, vers l’église (G#min) OR Anna/Noriko
III. Quel gallant m’est comparable (Gmaj)
IV. Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques (Amaj) Liz/Laurel
AND V. Tout gai! (Abmaj) Liz/Laurel
05-11 Satie Dapheneo, Trois Melodies de 1916 (Dmaj) Ann/Jeff
Roussel Reponse d’une épouse sage (Emin) Moon/David
Hahn L’Heure exquise (Dbmaj) OR Reed/Laurel
A Chloris (Emaj)
Si mes vers avaient des ailes (choose key) Benj/Noriko
(Dmaj PdF, Cmaj on reserve in library)
05-18 Milhaud Les Soirées de Pétrograde Anna/David
Choose 2, one from L’ancien régime
And one from La révolution
Honegger Cloche du soir Liz/Jeff
Poulenc Violon (Fiancailles pour rire) Roselyn/Noriko
C. (Deux poèmes de Louis Aragon) Georgia/Laurel
05-25 Poulenc C’est ainsi que tu es (Métamorphoses) Ann/Noriko
Dans l’herbe (Fiancailles pour rire) Moon/Laurel
Hôtel (Banalités) Reed/Jeff
Priez pour paix Benj/David
