The form of "Aucassin et Nicolette" is modeled on the medieval "chantefable," a narrative that alternates between prose passages and lyrical verse sections.
Composition History
Paul Le Flem's "Aucassin et Nicolette" is his earliest vocal stage work, begun in 1908 and finished in 1909, and is unique among his works for not being set in Brittany.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Le Flem's approach to dramatic music was unconventional, avoiding Wagnerian drama, naturalism, and Italian verismo, instead focusing on constant innovation and renewal.
Composition History
The work was originally conceived as a musical illustration for a shadow puppet show, a popular art form in Paris at the turn of the 20th century.
Recording & Production
This recording of "Aucassin et Nicolette" was made in Chambéry, Cité des arts, in March 2011, with Nicolas Chalvin conducting the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie and Solistes de Lyon - Bernard Tétu.
Compositional Technique
The work employs leitmotifs, or recurring musical themes, almost exclusively in the orchestra to comment on the narrative and characters, evolving and transforming throughout the piece.
Compositional Technique
Le Flem's music for "Aucassin et Nicolette" extensively uses pentatonicism, a characteristic linked to Celtic folk songs from his beloved Brittany.
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