Work
Jean à Jean : song cycle to poems of Jean Cocteau, for baritone and piano
by Gordon Kerry (2015)
Score
Jean à Jean : song cycle for baritone and piano / music by Gordon Kerry ; poems by Jean Cocteau.
Library shelf no. 783.88547/KER 1 [Available for loan]
Work Overview
French writer, artist and film-maker, Jean Cocteau was a serious insomniac, so penned these billets-doux while his lover, Jean Marais got his eight hours, and slipped them under the door for Marais to find of a morning.
Of the many poems, Robert Mitchell selected a number for me to set in which deep, erotic love is represented by imagery drawn from art - painted portraits, temple architecture and sculpture, out of which we chose seven. Naturally the work owes a great debt to the music of Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc and others.
Work Details
Year: 2015
Instrumentation: Baritone, piano.
Duration: 16 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Contents note: Prélude -- La colonne -- L’or à la feuille -- Le mauvais tapis volant -- Le portrait -- Le pur-sang rétif -- Le soleil noir.
Dedication note: In memoriam Denis Condon
Commission note: Commissioned by Robert Mitchell with funds provided by Australian Cultural Fund.
First performance: by David Harper, Robert Mitchell — 6 Sep 15.
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Song Cycles
Performances of this work
6 Sep 15: featuring David Harper, Robert Mitchell.
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