Noske F. - French Song From Berlioz To Duparc

Devoted to French art songs of the 19th century this volume explores the melodies of Berlioz Liszt Bizet Saint-Saëns Franck Fauré and many others. Sensitive evaluations include more than 250 musical examples. Invaluable as a work of reference in addition to being full of sound judgments and happy suggestions. -- Jacques Barzun MLA Notes A distinguished musicologist explores 19th-century French art songs in this fascinating study of the melodies of Berlioz Liszt Bizet Saint-Saëns Franck Fauré and others. The songs are described and analyzed in terms of structure style prosody and melo-harmonic features. Sensitive evaluations of the melodies include more than 250 musical examples. Author Frits Noske was the first musicologist to fully trace the origins and early development of the French art songs known as mélodie. He discusses the forms from which the genre evolved intermediary compositions by Niedermeyer and Monpou and the effect of Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies. Additional topics include Berlioz's contribution to the emerging form the influence of German song the special problems of French-language prosody and the changing role of the accompaniment. Music history and voice majors musicologists and music enthusiasts of all ages will appreciate this valuable guide to an unjustly neglected musical genre.