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This video is from the Senior Recital of Shawn Patrick Fletcher on April 26, 2012.

Charles Gounod (1818-93) is considered to be one of the first composers of the French mélodie. Born in Paris, France, Gounod attended the Paris Conservatorie, where he focused his studies on religious music, specifically that of Bach and Palestrina. In fact, Gounod was considering joining the holy orders when he was asked to commission an opera, Sapho. Although he didn't really find success until the opening of his opera Faust in 1859, that first opera can be credited for influencing Gounod to pursue vocal music. Gounod continued to write operas after Faust, however none of them reached the same level of success. Try as he may, Gounod was never really able to master the larger compositional forms; his style of writing was better suited to smaller works, like his solo vocal literature.

The focus of Gounod's vocal music is the melodic line. His accompaniments are usually nothing flashy, but are generally written in a sophisticated manner and give the vocal line its strength. Sérénade is no exception. Gounod's melody seems to float above the accompaniment and is truly written to display the beauty of the voice.

My intention for this set is to musically describe one day. The day is one of anticipation and longing, for it ends with a kiss. In starting the day with this serenade the character is recalling the last time he was with his lover. He remembers her singing, her laughter and lastly her drifting off to sleep. Every word he speaks makes him more excited to see her again.

Sérénade

Quands tu chantes bercée
Le soir entre mes bras,
Entends-tu ma pensée
Qui te répond tout bas?
Ton doux chant me rappelle
Les plus beaux de mes jours.
Ah! Chantez, chantez, ma belle,
Chantez, chantez toujours.

Quand tu ris, sur ta bouche
L'amour s'épanouit,
Et soudain le farouche
Soupçon s'évanouit.
Ah! Le rire fidèle
Prouvre un cœur sans detours!
Ah! Riez, riez, ma belle,
Riez, riez toujours!

Quand tu dors calme et pure
Dans l'ombre sous mes yeux,
Ton haleine murmure
Des mots harmonieux.
Ton beau corps se révèle
Sans voile et sans atours.
Ah! Dormez, dormez, ma belle,
Dormez, dormez toujours!

Poem by Victor Hugo

Serenade

When you sing cradled
At evening in my arms,
Do you hear my thoughts
Which softly respond to you!
Your sweet song recalls
The happiest days of my life.
Ah! Sing, sing, my fair one,
Sing, sing on!

When you laugh, upon your lips
Love flowers,
And suddenly fierce
Suspicion vanishes.
Ah! The faithful laughter
Shows a guileless heart!
Ah! Laugh, laugh, my fair one,
Laugh, laugh always!

When you sleep calm and pure
In the shadows, beneath my gaze,
Your breath murmurs
Harmonious words.
Your lovely form is revealed
Without veil and without attire.
Ah! Sleep, sleep, my fair one,
Sleep, sleep on!

Translated by Winifred Radford