Gabriel Fauré

Tristesse op. 6,2

A prevailing melancholy mood is characteristic of Théophile Gautier's (1811-1872) poetry; a melancholy mood which inspired composers such as Hector Berlioz and Gabriel Fauré to compose settings. Tristesse ('Sadness') is taken from the 1838 collection 'La Comédie de la Mort' ('The Comedy of Death'). With over 50 poems this is regarded as Gautier's major Romantic work. Although the narrator in the poem is conscious of the joy and zest for life of spring coming into bloom around him, he cannot share this: 'Hélas! j'ai dans le coeur une tristesse affreuse.' ('Alas, in my heart I bear a terrible grief.'). Fauré's setting portrays this effect less as a dramatic sigh than a melancholic unworldliness with peaceful piano accompaniment in the minor key.

This art song was originally composed not for chamber choir, but for solo voice and piano. Denis Rouger has carefully adapted it to suit the requirements and expressive possibilities offered by a larger ensemble, without losing any of the qualities of the original in the process. Each part in the choir has a melodic line drawn from the harmonic and rhythmic framework. In the process, the variety and refinement of the choral language combines with an enormous flexibility in form and expression, as French melodies or German art song demand from a soloist and pianist.

The songs have been recorded by the figure humaine chamber choir on the CD '... Wo die Zitronen blühn' (Carus 83.514).