Paul Verlaine and French Melodie, Honors Lecture-Recital by Morgan Taylor

carthage music department presents

Paul Verlaine & French MĂŠlodie Honors Lecture-Recital by Morgan Taylor Accompanied by Gregory Berg

Voice Teacher, Elena Batman This lecture-recital acts as a thesis presentation to complete the requirements for Honors in Music.

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 | 7:30 p.m. | Recital Hall

program There is no intermission Clair de lune

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Poet: Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)

Clair de lune

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) Poet: Paul Verlaine

L’heure exquise

Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) Poet: Paul Verlaine

La lune blanche luit dans les bois

Gabriel Fauré Poet: Paul Verlaine

Green

Claude Debussy Poet: Paul Verlaine

Green

Gabriel Fauré Poet: Paul Verlaine

Offrande

Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) Poet: Paul Verlaine

abstract - program note This study seeks to identify Paul Verlaine’s specific influence over the French art song genre of ​mélodie​through a close analysis of his poems and their various musical settings​. Verlaine’s dedication to rhyme and meter made his poetry easily adaptable to music and his lyric subjects compare to that of Goethe and German ​Lied​allowing for the emergence of the French genre of ​mélodie. ​Many composers have set his poems to music but this study will only focus on three: Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, and Reynaldo Hahn. The poems chosen for analysis have been set by at least two of the three aforementioned composers for the sake of comparison and showcase different points of Verlaine’s career. The poems are ​Clair de lune​, set by Debussy and Fauré; ​ La lune blanche​, set by Fauré and Hahn; and Green, set by all three.

poems and translations Clair de lune Votre âme est un paysage choisi Que vont charmant masques et bergamasques, Jouant du luth et dansant, et quasi Tristes sous leurs déguisements fantasques!

Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur L’amour vainqueur et la vie opportune.

Ils n’ont pas l’air de croire à leur bonheur, Et leur chanson se mêle au clair de lune,

Moonlight Your soul is a chosen landscape bewitched by masquers and bergamaskers, playing the lute and dancing and almost sad beneath their fanciful disguises.

Singing as they go in a minor key of conquering love and life’s favours, they do not seem to believe in their fortune and their song mingles with the light of the moon,

Au calme clair de lune triste et beau, Qui fait rêver, les oiseaux dans les arbres, Et sangloter d’extase les jets d’eau, Les grands jets d’eau sveltes parmi les marbres.

The calm light of the moon, sad and fair, that sets the birds dreaming in the trees and the fountains sobbing in their rapture, tall and svelte amid marble statues

La lune blanche La lune blanche Luit dans les bois; De chaque branche Part une voix Sous la ramée…

Exquisite hour The white moon Gleams in the woods; From every branch There comes a voice Beneath the boughs…

Ô bien aimée.

O my beloved.

L’étang reflète, Profond miroir, La silhouette Du saule noir Où le vent pleure…

The pool reflects, Deep mirror, The silhouette Of the black willow Where the wind is weeping…

Rêvons, c’est l’heure.

Let us dream, it is the hour.

Un vaste et tendre Apaisement Semble descendre Du firmament Que l’astre irise…

A vast and tender Consolation Seems to fall From the sky The moon illumines…

C’est l’heure exquise.

Exquisite hour

poems and translations Green Voici des fruits, des fleurs, des feuilles et des branches Et puis voici mon cœur qui ne bat que pour vous.

Ne le déchirez pas avec vos deux mains blanches Et qu’à vos yeux si beaux l’humble présent soit doux.

Here are flowers, branches, fruit, and fronds, And here too is my heart that beats just for you.

Do not tear it with your two white hands And may the humble gift please your lovely eyes.

I come all covered still with the dew Frozen to my brow by the morning breeze.

Let my fatigue, finding rest at your feet, Dream of dear moments that will soothe it.

J’arrive tout couvert encore de rosée Que le vent du matin vient glacer à mon front.

On your young breast let me cradle my head Souffrez que ma fatigue, à vos pieds reposée, Still ringing with your recent kisses; Rêve des chers instants qui la délasseront.

After love’s sweet tumult grant it peace, And let me sleep a while, since you rest.

Sur votre jeune sein laissez rouler ma tête Toute sonore encore de vos derniers baisers; Laissez-la s’apaiser de la bonne tempête, Et que je dorme un peu puisque vous reposez.

performer biography Morgan Taylor (she/her/hers) is a senior at Carthage College. She studies Music Education, Vocal Performance, and has a minor in French. Her time at Carthage has always been focused on her goal of being an elementary school music teacher, but she stayed busy these past four years. A member of Carthage Choir since freshman year, Morgan is now the President and works as the Choral Librarian. She also participates in the Lincoln Chamber Singers and is the Music Director for Perfectly Authentic A Capella. Always in the business of wanting to help others learn, Morgan has tutored for several subjects including French and Music Theory, while also working in the Brainard Writing Center as a Writing Fellow.

Outside of music and academics, Morgan founded Carthage College's first Sketch Comedy Club and is also a member of the Neil-Futurists. Morgan is excited to be pursuing Honors in Music by presenting this Honors Lecture-Recital which is a culmination of her Music and French studies at Carthage.

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