Milhaud, Darius

Composed by Darius Milhaud  Quatrains Valaisans is a piece for SATB a cappella based on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. This piece features five different parts each one from a poem whose lyrics are inspired by the Valais area in Switzerland. The composition includes polytonality and polyrhythms that make it highly lyrical cheerful and nice to sing. The five poems selected are: 1. Pays arrêté a mi-chemin / 'Country that stops half-way...' 2. Rose de lumiere / 'Rose of Light' 3. L'année tourne / 'The year revolves' 4. Chemins qui ne menent nulle part / 'Paths that take younowhere' 5. Beau papillon / 'Lovely butterfly' Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a composer and a teacher who was also known to be part of Les Six. His composition were known to use polytonality and to include some characteristics drawns from the jazz genre.

This title is taken from the compilation French Songs And Choruses For Mixed-Voice Choir (NOV165198) Both Beata Viscera Mariae and O Magnum Mysterium (AL30765) are taken from Milhaud's 5 Prières for Voice and Organ (or Piano) Op. 231c. Arranged by Rupert Jeffcoat. Though the Cinq Prières were originally composed for solo voice and organ Jeffcoat has happily resisted the temptation to adapt Milhaud's short but distinctive works beyond what is necessary to transfer the music effectively to mixed voices. - Geoffrey Webber of choirandorgan.com