The elegantly expressive songs in this volume are among the finest works
of the composer generally regarded as the greatest master of the French
song. Gabriel Fauré wrote then between 1861 and 1904, and gathered them
into three collections, all reprinted here from authoritative French
editions originally prepared for medium voice.
Set to texts by such distinguished writers as Victor Hugo, Théophile
Gautier, Charles Baudelaire, Paulk Verlaine, and Jean Richepin, the
songs reflect the subtle refinement of Fauré's creative sensibilities
and the conviction he could bring to a broad range of moods. Included
here are such well-known works as Clair de lune, Après un rêve, and Les
roses d'Ispahan, along with such touching masterpieces as Chanson de
pêcheur and L'absent, and the emotionally charged Le voyageur and
Automne.
In these exquisite compositions, among the most frequently performed and
recorded songs today, singers will discover the strikingly individual
textures, melodies, and harmonies with which Fauré forged a musical
style that bridged late-Romantic and 20th-century musical idioms, and
deeply influenced a generation of composers.