Poèmes pour Wed

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Poèmes pour Mi is a cycle of songs by the French composer Olivier Messiaen . The piece was written in 1936, Messiaen also wrote the text of the cycle and initially wrote a version for soprano and piano . This was premiered on April 28, 1937 by Marcelle Bunlet (soprano) and the composer at the piano in Paris (schola cantorum). In 1937 Messiaen created a version for soprano and orchestra. The piece is dedicated to Messiaen's first wife, Claire Delbos , who was nicknamed "Mi". Messiaen wrote two other song cycles ( Harawi and Chants de terre et de le ciel ), but the Poèmes pour Mi were the only ones orchestrated.

Instrumentation for the orchestral version

4 flutes, 3 oboes (also English horn), 2 clarinets, 3 bassoons,
4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
3 percussion
strings

Duration: approx. 32 minutes

The individual songs

1. Action de grâces (“Thanksgiving”)
2. Paysage (“Landscape”)
3. La maison (“The House”)
4. Épouvante (“Horror”)
5. L'épouse (“The Wife”)
6. Ta voix (“Your Voice”)
7. Les deux guerriers (“The Two Warriors”)
8. Le collier (“The Collar”)
9. Prière exaucée (“Answered Prayer”)

Recordings (selection)

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  • CD booklet of the recording of the work with Francoise Pollet, the Cleveland Orchestra and Pierre Boulez ( DGG 1998)