Description
This is the standard work on its subject, and its author the outstanding authority. Pierre Bernac had a long and distinguished career as a singer, specialising in the French song (or mélodie) repertoire. For many years he was incomparably partnered by Francis Poulenc, one of the composers discussed in this book. M. Bernac later taught and gave master classes in Europe and the United States. He died in 1979. Among eighteen composers whose vocal works are covered in the book are Berlioz, Gounod, Duparc, Chausson, Faure, Debussy, Satie, Ravel, as well as Poulenc and others. The greater part of each composer’s output in the genre is discussed: texts of nearly 200 songs are given in French, with line-for-line verse translations by Winifred Radford, notes on pronunciation, and simple but detailed suggestion for performance and interpretation. Preceding these sections on the songs themselves are three most important chapters on performance and interpretation in vocal music, on singing in French, and on the particular problems involved in the interpretation of French mélodies. This is the book every serious singer needs and more and more, singers are ‘discovering’ French song. It is also an invaluable guide for the concert-goer and record collector.
Contents
Foreword
1. Performance and Interpretation of Vocal Music
2. On Singing French
3. The Interpretation of French Mélodies
4. Berlioz and Gounod
5. Franck, Lalo, Saint-Saëns, Delibes, Bizet and Massenet
6. Duparc
7. Chabrier
8. Chausson
9. Fauré
10. Debussy
11. Satie and Caplet
12. Roussel
13. Ravel
14. Poulenc
15. Other Composers
Index of Titles
Index of First Lines
Index of Composers
About the Author
Pierre Bernac was a French baritone and a famous interpreter of the French mélodie. He had a close artistic association with Francis Poulenc, with whom he performed in France and abroad. Poulenc wrote 90 songs especially for him during their 25-year musical partnership. Bernac was well known as a teacher and among the singers who studied with him were Elly Ameling, Grace Bumbry, Mattiwilda Dobbs, Carol Neblett, Jessye Norman and Gérard Souzay. He gave masterclasses in France, Britain and the US.
Reviews
No voice teacher, no coach, no accompanist, no singer, and for that matter, no music-lover should be without this publication . . . from a man whose knowledge of this repertoire is so complete and profound as to make his treatment of it definitive and without equal.
Notes
This is a useful book which has translations of the well known Chansons but also gives you background and performance directions. 5 stars
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