Gabriel Fauré was born in Pamiers, Ariège,
Midi-Pyrénées, in the south of France, the fifth son
and youngest of six children of Toussaint-Honoré
Fauré (1810?85) and Marie-Antoinette-Hélène
Lalène-Laprade (1809?87).
Fauré is regarded as one of the masters of the French
art song, or mélodie. His devotion to the mélodie
spans his career, from the ever-fresh "Le papillon et
la fleur" of 1861 to the masterly cycle L'horizon
chimérique, composed sixty years and more than a
hundr...(+)
Gabriel Fauré was born in Pamiers, Ariège,
Midi-Pyrénées, in the south of France, the fifth son
and youngest of six children of Toussaint-Honoré
Fauré (1810?85) and Marie-Antoinette-Hélène
Lalène-Laprade (1809?87).
Fauré is regarded as one of the masters of the French
art song, or mélodie. His devotion to the mélodie
spans his career, from the ever-fresh "Le papillon et
la fleur" of 1861 to the masterly cycle L'horizon
chimérique, composed sixty years and more than a
hundred songs later. Fauré's songs are now core
repertoire for students and professionals, sung in
conservatories and recital halls throughout the
world.
The first volume of Fauré 3 songs is called "Au bord
de l'eau" (by the water's edge) -- a reference to the
French master's fondness for aquatic, nautical, and
natural subjects in poetry, as well as to the title of
one of his most famous songs. Having decided against a
purely chronological survey of Fauré's songs, an
approach that would have progressed from the lyrical
outpourings of the composer's youth to the much
thornier works of his later years.
Although this piece was originally written for Piano
and Voice, I arranged it for Flute and Concert (Pedal)
Harp.