Banalités (FP 107) is a set of five mélodies for voice and piano composed by Francis Poulenc in 1940 on poems by Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918).
History of the work
Composed in 1940, the mélodies were premiered at salle Gaveau, on 14 December 1940, by Pierre Bernac (baritone) and the composer (piano).Banalités on Bibliothèque nationale de France
Titles Chanson d’Orkenise Hôtel Fagnes de Wallonie Voyage à Paris Sanglots
Source of the poems "Chanson d'Orkenise", "Fagnes de Wallonie" and "Sanglots" are taken from the collection Il y aIl y a de Guillaume Apollinaire on Anthologie de la poésie d'amour (1925).
"Hôtel", written in 1913, was published in the posthumous collection Le Guetteur mélancoliqueLe Guetteur mélancolique on Babelio (1952). "Voyage à Paris" was published in the Poèmes retrouvés from the Œuvres poétiques by Apollinaire in 1956.
Dedicatees "Chanson d'Orkenise" is dedicated to Claude Rostand, "Hôtel" to Marthe Bosredon,Marthe Bosredon on Data.bnf.fr "Fagnes de Wallonie" to Ms. Henri Frédéricq, "Voyage à Paris" to Paul Éluard, and "Sanglots" to Suzette Chanlaire.Suzette Chanlaire on Data.bnf.fr
Discography Pierre Bernac (baritone) and Francis Poulenc (piano) in 1950 (Naxos). 1 and 2: Régine Crespin (soprano) and John Wustman (piano) in 1967 (Decca). Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto) and (piano) (RCA). Michel Piquemal (baritone) and Christine LajarrigeChristine Lajarrige on concerts.fr/Biographie (piano) (Naxos). Véronique Gens (soprano) and Roger Vignoles (piano) (Erato).
Quote One song by the band Pink Martini, "Sympathique",Sympathique (je ne veux pas travailler) on YouTube is inspired by the poem "Hotel" by Apollinaire and its setting to music by Poulenc.
References
External links Banalités on IMSLP Pierre Bernac sings "Banalites" of Poulenc with Poulenc on YouTube