related works
Estampie : for wind orchestra, 1978, revision 1992 / Bernard van Beurden
Genre:
Orchestra
Scoring:
fl fl(pic) ob ob(eh) cl cl(cl-b) 2fg 2h trp trb tb timp 2-3perc
Lamento pacis II : for choir and instruments / Ton de Leeuw; text by Erasmus
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Scoring:
4sopr 4alt 4ten 4bas picc 2perc 2vl 2vla 2cb
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments
Scoring:
zang FK 2fl(picc) 2ob 2tpt pf db perc
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Mixed choir and instruments; Mixed choir and orchestra
Scoring:
GK4 2vl vla vc / GK4 str
composition
Je vous le donne : for chamber choir and cello solo / Bernard van Beurden; lyrics by Paul Verlaine
Author(s):
Verlaine, Paul
(Text writer/Librettist)
Beurden, Bernard van
(Composer)
Description:
SIX MEDIEVAL SONGS
The SIX MEDIEVAL SONGS are the songs of the troubadours, trouvères and Minnesänger: Poets and musicians who went through the courts and castles to recite poems and songs. I have arranged those poems and songs for chamber choir and cello solo.
Both the melody and the lyrics are very simple and beautiful.
JE VOUS LE DONNE
The text of JE VOUS LE DONNE (the title is taken from the last four words of the poem) is found in the bundle Sagesse by Paul Verlaine, who was born in Metz in 1844. Paul Verlaine had an extremely turbulent life, because of the many women and alcohol.
His alcoholism was the main cause of his tremendous aggressiveness. He even tried to assassinate his friend and poet Rimbaud.
In JE VOUS LE DONNE, it seems like the poet is reconnected with God, when he had calmed down somewhat, to thereafter continue with his turbulent life. Eventually he died in miserable conditions in 1896 in Paris.
TRAIT D'UNION
Because the choir wanted to perform SIX MEDIEVAL SONGS and JE VOUS LE DONNE consecutively, I composed TRAIT D'UNION for violoncello solo, which connects the two compositions together.
TRAIT D'UNION begins immediately after the SIX MEDIEVAL SONGS and develops from the medieval notes to the contemporary notes of JE VOUS LE DONNE.
The three compositions (SIX CHANSONS, JE VOUS LE DONNE and TRAIT D'UNION) are separately available at Donemus.
Bernard van Beurden