Gabriel Faure's "La Bonne Chanson", Opus 61 and "La Chanson d'Eve", Opus 95: Musical diversity versus thematic unity.

Abstract

This document is a study of the musical and literary unity Gabriel Faure applied to the La Bonne chanson, Opus 61 and La Chanson d'Eve, Opus 95. This paper further is an in depth examination of the two versions of La Bonne chanson and how Faure uses the colorful string texture to specifically illustrate thematic material as well as textual themes. The original string quintet version will be analyzed in the voicing of string accompaniment illustrating just how Faure eliminates these unifying themes in each string color juxtaposed with thematic material in the piano accompaniment as well. In the second version, which is piano/vocal, these musical themes are far less distinct to the listener due to the complex thematic texture of the accompaniment.