Gateway to French Mélodies Cover Image

Gateway to French Mélodies: High Voice CD

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Gateway to French Mélodies Cover Image

Gateway to French Mélodies: High Voice CD

An Anthology of French Song and Interpretation

Ed. John Glenn Paton

Item: 00-36536

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Description
Gateway to French Mélodies leads us into a fragrant garden of poetry and music that is both passionate and refined. Each song brings to life one of the great themes of French art---love, nature, the purpose of life---with sensuous beauty, beguiling grace, and often with humor.

Understanding what you sing is the basic concept of the Gateway series. Each lyric is translated, both word-by-word and in readable English. The singer can learn the song with confidence, as obscure points of phonetics, grammar and interpretation are made clear. The cultural context of each song is illuminated, along with its place in the life and works of the composer.

Many of the marvelous songs found here been out of print for more than a century and a few are published here for the very first time. The songs include:
"Plaisir d'amour," the quintessential song of bittersweet love, edited from the composer's original 1784 edition
Seven works by women composers, including two sisters who were divas of Romantic opera, Maria Malibran and Pauline Viardo
Works of French operatic masters such as Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Bizet, and Massenet
Six songs by Gabriel Fauré and four by Claude Debussy
Two duets from contrasting historical periods

Piano accompaniments are heard on the companion CD, beautifully played by Joan Thompson and expertly engineered by Grammy Award winner Matthew Snyder.

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Additional Details
Series: Gateway Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
ISBN10: 0-7390-7417-2
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-7417-6
UPC: 038081403564
SKU: 00-36536

More about this title

Why we love this

This collection assembles French mélodies that have largely vanished from modern performance, including several works published here for the first time and songs out of print for over a century. The dual translation system (word-for-word plus idiomatic English) removes the guesswork from interpretation, letting singers focus on the artistry rather than deciphering obscure phrasing or grammar. Joan Thompson's beautifully recorded piano accompaniments (engineered by Grammy Award winner Matthew Snyder) provide both a model for interpretation and a practical rehearsal tool.

What to expect

These songs embody the elegance and emotional depth that define French vocal music. You'll encounter the bittersweet ache of love songs, the sensuous beauty of nature imagery, and moments of quiet humor, all delivered with the refinement and grace that made French mélodies a cornerstone of the Romantic vocal tradition.

Who it's for

High voice singers preparing for art song recitals, vocal students building fluency in French repertoire, and anyone seeking to perform mélodies that exist nowhere else in modern print. This collection serves both the serious art song singer and the curious performer looking to venture beyond the standard canon.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the cultural context provided in the book alongside the word-by-word translations; understanding the poetic intent clarifies phrasing choices and emotional shape.
  • Use the recorded accompaniment to internalize the harmonic language and rubato typical of the period, then gradually move toward your own interpretation.
  • Pay attention to the phonetic guidance in the notes; French diction shapes vowel color and resonance in ways that directly affect how the melody sits in your voice.

How to use it

Feature individual songs in recital programs that explore Romantic-era themes of love and nature, or build a complete recital around the works of Fauré and Debussy included here. These pieces also work well in survey concerts on French music or as encore selections that showcase the intimate artistry of the mélodie tradition.

Skills your students will build

  • French diction and pronunciation in art song context
  • Understanding poetic meaning and its musical translation
  • Interpreting accompanied vocal line with period-appropriate phrasing
  • Building confidence with unfamiliar repertoire through comprehensive contextual notes
  • Developing interpretive choices informed by composer biography and cultural history

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