Cécile Chaminade songs, Part 1

"L'Idéal" was written by the Parnassian poet Sully Prudhomme. Chaminade follows the poem's design in the musical form A1 A2 ( = transposition, varied) B1 B2 A1 A2'. Her mode of expression is both dramatic and emphatic.

In the opening, a chromatic line rises to G4, then moves beyond it to G#4 (over an augmented triad) and A4 as the voice takes up its stolid recitation over ^8 (C4 if tenor, C5 if soprano), ending its phrase on ^9/^2 (D, circled).

The voice in the second phrase transposes its first phrase up a step, changing the ending to close firmly indeed with a ^3-^-2-^1 in C major, while—in an even more determined way (note the marcato accents)—the piano ascends to ^8. Overall then, a wedge figure is created.

In the reprise of the A section, the chromatic keyboard line flows directly out of the PAC that closes B2—see the circled notes below.

In the final phrase A2', both voice and piano reach fortissimo, and the piano overtops the voice (whether soprano or tenor), demanding equal attention to its rising line.