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Messiaen composed the work at the [[Lac de Pétichet]] in the summer of 1936, setting his own poems.<ref name="BNF" /> He specifically called for a ''grand soprano dramatique'' (great dramatic soprano), probably with the voice of {{ill|Marcelle Bunlet|WD=Q49248220}}<ref>[http://greatoperasingers.blogspot.com/2015/03/marcelle-bunlet_14.html "Marcelle Bunlet"], greatoperasingers.blogspot.com</ref><ref>[http://data.bnf.fr/13926809/marcelle_bunlet/ Marcelle Bunlet] on [[BnF]]</ref> in mind, who was a notable singer of [[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Brünnhilde]] at the time.<ref name="Oliver" /> Messiaen dedicated the cycle to his first wife, [[Claire Delbos]],<ref name="BNF" /> a violinist and composer.<ref name="Schmid" /> It is one of three major song cycles, with ''[[Harawi (Messiaen)|Harawi]]'' and ''[[Chants de Terre et de Ciel]]'', and the only one which he also orchestrated, the following year in Paris.<ref name="Halbreich" />
Messiaen composed the work at the [[Lac de Pétichet]] in the summer of 1936, setting his own poems.<ref name="BNF" /> He specifically called for a ''grand soprano dramatique'' (great dramatic soprano), probably with the voice of {{ill|Marcelle Bunlet|WD=Q49248220}}<ref>[http://greatoperasingers.blogspot.com/2015/03/marcelle-bunlet_14.html "Marcelle Bunlet"], greatoperasingers.blogspot.com</ref><ref>[http://data.bnf.fr/13926809/marcelle_bunlet/ Marcelle Bunlet] on [[BnF]]</ref> in mind, who was a notable singer of [[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Brünnhilde]] at the time.<ref name="Oliver" /> Messiaen dedicated the cycle to his first wife, [[Claire Delbos]],<ref name="BNF" /> a violinist and composer.<ref name="Schmid" /> It is one of three major song cycles, with ''[[Harawi (Messiaen)|Harawi]]'' and ''[[Chants de Terre et de Ciel]]'', and the only one which he also orchestrated, the following year in Paris.<ref name="Halbreich" />


The piano version was premiered on 28 April 1937 as a concert of La Spirale,<ref>cf. [[La jeune France]]</ref> by Marcelle Bunlet and the composer at the piano.<ref name="Halbreich" /> It was published by [[Durand (publisher)|Édition Durand]].<ref name="Halbreich" /> The first performance of the orchestra version took place at the [[salle Gaveau]] in Paris on 4 June 1937. The soprano Marcelle Bunlet was accompanied by the orchestra of the [[Société des Concerts du Conservatoire]], conducted by [[Roger Désormière]].<ref name="BNF" />
The piano version was premiered on 28 April 1937 as a concert of ''La Spirale'',<ref>cf. [[La jeune France]]</ref> by Marcelle Bunlet and the composer at the piano.<ref name="Halbreich" /> It was published by [[Durand (publisher)|Éditions Durand]].<ref name="Halbreich" /> The first performance of the orchestral version took place at the [[salle Gaveau]] in Paris on 4 June 1937. The soprano Marcelle Bunlet was accompanied by the orchestra of the [[Société des Concerts du Conservatoire]], conducted by [[Roger Désormière]].<ref name="BNF" />


== Text structure and scoring ==
== Text structure and scoring ==
In his poems, Messiaen paraphrases verses from the [[New Testament]] in "surrealist poetry". The poems can be seen as depicting first a couple's spiritual struggle, then their journey together.<ref name="Schmid" /> In this work, the rhythmic language uses very irregular durations, and certain processes dear to the author: added values, added points, [[non-retrogradable rhythm]]s, plus some borrowings from Greek metrics and Hindu rhythmics. The "Mi" syllable of the title is a word of affection, imitating a diminutive, and the nickname of the dedicatee.<ref name="Halbreich" />
In his poems, Messiaen paraphrases verses from the [[New Testament]] in "surrealist poetry". The poems can be seen as depicting first a couple's spiritual struggle, then their journey together.<ref name="Schmid" /> In this work, the rhythmic language uses very irregular durations, and certain processes dear to the author: added values, added points, [[non-retrogradable rhythm]]s, plus some borrowings from Greek metrics and Hindu rhythmics. The "''Mi''" syllable of the title is a word of affection, imitating a diminutive, and the nickname of the dedicatee.<ref name="Halbreich" />


# Action de grâces
# Action de grâces
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# Prière exaucée
# Prière exaucée


The work is scored for soprano solo, four [[Western concert flute|flute]]s, three [[oboe]]s (also [[Cor anglais]]), two [[clarinet]]s, three [[bassoon]]s, four [[French horn|horn]]s, three [[trumpet]]s, three [[trombone]]s, [[tuba]], percussion (three players) and [[String instrument|strings]]. The duration is given as 32 minutes.<ref name="BNF" />
The orchestration is scored for soprano solo, four [[Western concert flute|flute]]s, three [[oboe]]s (doubling [[cor anglais]]), two [[clarinet]]s, three [[bassoon]]s, four [[French horn|horn]]s, three [[trumpet]]s, three [[trombone]]s, [[tuba]], percussion (three players) and [[String instrument|strings]]. The duration is given as 32 minutes.<ref name="BNF" />


== Recordings ==
== Recordings ==
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== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em
{{Reflist
| refs =
| refs =


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| title = L'oeuvre d'Olivier Messiaen
| title = L'oeuvre d'Olivier Messiaen
| publisher = Fayard
| publisher = Fayard
| year = 2008
| date = 2008
| isbn = 9782213644844
| isbn = 9782213644844
| page = 204
| page = 204
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}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<ref name="Oliver">{{cite web
<ref name="Oliver">{{cite magazine
| last = Oliver
| last = Oliver
| first = Michael
| first = Michael
| url = https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/messiaen-po%C3%A8mes-pour-mi-1
| url = https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/messiaen-po%C3%A8mes-pour-mi-1
| title = Messiaen: ''Poèmes pour Mi''
| title = Messiaen: ''Poèmes pour Mi''
| work = [[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]
| magazine = [[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]
| date = February 1987
| date = February 1987
| accessdate = 15 November 2018
| access-date = 15 November 2018
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| publisher = [[French National Library]]
| publisher = [[French National Library]]
| language = fr
| language = fr
| accessdate = 15 November 2018
| access-date = 15 November 2018
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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* [http://www.sylviacazeneuve.com/recitals/pdf/poemes-pour-mi-olivier-messiaen-sylvia-cazeneuve.pdf ''Poèmes pour Mi'' – Olivier Messiaen], sylviacazeneuve.com
* [http://www.sylviacazeneuve.com/recitals/pdf/poemes-pour-mi-olivier-messiaen-sylvia-cazeneuve.pdf ''Poèmes pour Mi'' – Olivier Messiaen], sylviacazeneuve.com
* {{Youtube|id=4P02AbJ1yZY|''Poèmes pour Mi'' (Orán/Loriod)}}
* {{Youtube|id=4P02AbJ1yZY|''Poèmes pour Mi'' (Orán/Loriod)}}
* {{cite thesis|author=Emily M. Bennett|url=https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/21615/Bennett_ku_0099D_14506_DATA_1.pdf|title=Songs of Faith and Love: A Study of Olivier Messiaen's 'Poèmes pour Mi'|type=Doctor of Musical Arts thesis|publisher=[[University of Kansas]]|date=1 April 2016|ref=none}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Bennett |first=Emily M. |url=https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/21615/Bennett_ku_0099D_14506_DATA_1.pdf |title=Songs of Faith and Love: A Study of Olivier Messiaen's 'Poèmes pour Mi' |type=Doctor of Musical Arts thesis |publisher=[[University of Kansas]] |date=1 April 2016 |ref=none}}


{{Olivier Messiaen|state=collapsed}}
{{Olivier Messiaen|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:1937 compositions]]
[[Category:1937 compositions]]
[[Category:Song cycles by Olivier Messiaen]]
[[Category:Song cycles by Olivier Messiaen]]
[[Category:Classical song cycles]]
[[Category:Orchestral songs]]

Revision as of 15:22, 26 March 2024

Poèmes pour Mi
Song cycle by Olivier Messiaen
Claire Delbos and Olivier Messiaen in 1933
TextPoems by the composer
LanguageFrench
Composed1936 (1936)–1937
DedicationClaire Delbos
Duration32 min
Movements9
Scoring
  • soprano
  • piano or orchestra

Poèmes pour Mi (Poems for Mi) is a song cycle for dramatic soprano and piano or orchestra by Olivier Messiaen, composed in 1936 and 1937 and dedicated to his first wife, Claire Delbos. The text are poems by the composer based on the New Testament.

History

Messiaen composed the work at the Lac de Pétichet in the summer of 1936, setting his own poems.[1] He specifically called for a grand soprano dramatique (great dramatic soprano), probably with the voice of Marcelle Bunlet [Wikidata][2][3] in mind, who was a notable singer of Brünnhilde at the time.[4] Messiaen dedicated the cycle to his first wife, Claire Delbos,[1] a violinist and composer.[5] It is one of three major song cycles, with Harawi and Chants de Terre et de Ciel, and the only one which he also orchestrated, the following year in Paris.[6]

The piano version was premiered on 28 April 1937 as a concert of La Spirale,[7] by Marcelle Bunlet and the composer at the piano.[6] It was published by Éditions Durand.[6] The first performance of the orchestral version took place at the salle Gaveau in Paris on 4 June 1937. The soprano Marcelle Bunlet was accompanied by the orchestra of the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conducted by Roger Désormière.[1]

Text structure and scoring

In his poems, Messiaen paraphrases verses from the New Testament in "surrealist poetry". The poems can be seen as depicting first a couple's spiritual struggle, then their journey together.[5] In this work, the rhythmic language uses very irregular durations, and certain processes dear to the author: added values, added points, non-retrogradable rhythms, plus some borrowings from Greek metrics and Hindu rhythmics. The "Mi" syllable of the title is a word of affection, imitating a diminutive, and the nickname of the dedicatee.[6]

  1. Action de grâces
  2. Paysage
  3. La Maison
  4. Épouvante
  5. L'épouse
  6. Ta voix
  7. Les deux guerriers
  8. Le collier
  9. Prière exaucée

The orchestration is scored for soprano solo, four flutes, three oboes (doubling cor anglais), two clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, percussion (three players) and strings. The duration is given as 32 minutes.[1]

Recordings

Both versions of the song cycle have been recorded.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Olivier Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi (1936–1937)" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  2. ^ "Marcelle Bunlet", greatoperasingers.blogspot.com
  3. ^ Marcelle Bunlet on BnF
  4. ^ a b c Oliver, Michael (February 1987). "Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi". Gramophone. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b Schmid, Rebecca. "From our Repertoire: Messiaen's Poèmes pour Mi" (in French). French National Library. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d Halbreich, Harry (2008). L'oeuvre d'Olivier Messiaen (in French). Fayard. p. 204. ISBN 9782213644844.
  7. ^ cf. La jeune France
  8. ^ Lise Arseguet on BnF
  9. ^ Maria Oràn on BnF
  10. ^ Olivier Messiaen / Poèmes pour Mi / Sept Haïkaï / Le Réveil des oiseaux (Cleveland Orchestra, Boulez) Deutsche Grammophon (1997)

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poèmes_pour_Mi&oldid=1215684921"