signed
by DELIBES, Léo 1836-1891
3 pp. Folio. Notated on 20-stave music paper on five 3-stave systems per page on rectos only. In G minor.
With text by noted French poet Armand Silvestre (1837-1901):
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
C'est moins qu'un moment,
Un peu plus qu'un rêve.
Le temps nous enlève
Notre enchantement.
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
Sous le flot dormant
Soupirait la grève;
M'aimais-tu vraiment?
Fût-ce seulement
Un peu plus qu'un rève?
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
With a number of erasures and corrections; original titles to head of first page of music crossed out.
Somewhat worn and browned; slightly creased; a few small edges tears to blank margins; the three leaves tied together with string threaded through small hole to blank upper inner margin. Number 2 of the Quinze mélodies et deux choeurs pour voix de femmes published by G. Hartmann in 1885.
Delibes’ masterpiece is Lakmé, which offers more than just a fine vehicle for a star soprano; the two principal male characters, Nilakantha and Gérald, are firmly drawn, and the music is melodic, picturesque and theatrically strong. ... The vocal writing is of the highest quality ...
Outside the theatre (for which Delibes wrote nearly all his music) his most notable work was as a composer of choruses, now undeservedly neglected. His output of songs was relatively small and that of instrumental and church music almost negligible. ... His workmanship was of the highest order; he had a natural gift for harmonic dexterity and a sure sense of orchestral colour ... " Hugh Macdonald in Grove Music Online
A number of Silvestre's poems were set to music by noted French composers including Gabriel Fauré, André Messager, and Jeanne Rivet. (Inventory #: 40684)
With text by noted French poet Armand Silvestre (1837-1901):
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
C'est moins qu'un moment,
Un peu plus qu'un rêve.
Le temps nous enlève
Notre enchantement.
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
Sous le flot dormant
Soupirait la grève;
M'aimais-tu vraiment?
Fût-ce seulement
Un peu plus qu'un rève?
Que l'heure est donc brève,
Qu'on passe en aimant!
With a number of erasures and corrections; original titles to head of first page of music crossed out.
Somewhat worn and browned; slightly creased; a few small edges tears to blank margins; the three leaves tied together with string threaded through small hole to blank upper inner margin. Number 2 of the Quinze mélodies et deux choeurs pour voix de femmes published by G. Hartmann in 1885.
Delibes’ masterpiece is Lakmé, which offers more than just a fine vehicle for a star soprano; the two principal male characters, Nilakantha and Gérald, are firmly drawn, and the music is melodic, picturesque and theatrically strong. ... The vocal writing is of the highest quality ...
Outside the theatre (for which Delibes wrote nearly all his music) his most notable work was as a composer of choruses, now undeservedly neglected. His output of songs was relatively small and that of instrumental and church music almost negligible. ... His workmanship was of the highest order; he had a natural gift for harmonic dexterity and a sure sense of orchestral colour ... " Hugh Macdonald in Grove Music Online
A number of Silvestre's poems were set to music by noted French composers including Gabriel Fauré, André Messager, and Jeanne Rivet. (Inventory #: 40684)
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