Blangini – Six Ariettes Italiennes, for high voice and piano or harp
On lyrics by Metastasio
Genre: Early Romantic
Difficulty: 5-7
Pages: 15
Felice (Giuseppe Marco Maria) Blangini (1781-1841) was a famous tenor and opera composer of Italian birth famous for his romances and his own romancing. He arrived in Paris in 1799, opening a concert room that by 1811 was “frequented for preference by the best society of Paris”. In 1805, he had a stint in service to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg in Munich, then to Napoleon’s sister Pauline Borghese, with whom he had a liaison (alluded to in his songs), and in 1809 to Jérôme Bonaparte in Westphalia. By 1814, he was back in Paris, appointed superintendent of the King’s music and court composer, as well as professor of singing at the Conservatoire. His operas, mostly in a light comic vein, did not have staying power, but he was credited with the invention of the vocal nocturne. He wrote hundreds of songs (romances, nocturnes, canzonets, etc.) for one, two or more voices to “piano or harp” accompaniment.
The Six Ariettes Italiennes are made available again as a clean facsimile of the original first edition published while he was Kapellmeister in Munich, probably around 1805-1806. They are a fine example of pre-romantic song, in an elegant, straightforward and mellifluous style that speaks to the heart.
Duparc – Sérénade, tr. D. Piana, for medium voice and harp
Genre: Romantic
Difficulty: 8
Pages: 3
The Serenade by Henri Duparc (1848-1933) is one of his youthful Op. 2 mélodies, published in 1870, which he later sought to suppress. This wonderful little jewel was written originally in G for medium voice and piano (in 1869), but sounds even more effective with the tone of the harp. In her work with singers, D. Piana returned many times to the piano accompaniment, as some passages needed to be rewritten enharmonically to make them work on the harp, and huge left hand leaps were crying for new solutions, with substitution of hands to keep the flow going.
A version for high voice can be requested personally.
Holý – 2 Lieder for voice and harp, high voice (Herbstlied – Abschied)
Genre: Late Romantic
Difficulty: 6-7
Pages: 8
Holý – 2 Lieder for voice and harp, medium voice (Herbstlied – Abschied)
Genre: Late Romantic
Difficulty: 6-7
Pages: 8