Of Cicadas and Ducks: Humor in Emmanuel Chabrier's "Les cigales" and "Villanelle des petits canards"

Authors

Hope V. Dornfeld, Liberty UniversityFollow

Abstract

This research project consists of a vocal performance of two songs from Emmanuel Chabrier’s “Barnyard Suite” (Volailleries), a song cycle on poems of Edmond Rostand and Rosemonde Gérard. It will be accompanied by program notes and a separate oral presentation that detail the research process and creative decisions inherent in presenting a work of musical performance art. The project will provide a broad historical context for Chabrier’s work, with special attention given to the role of humor in French art song. The first song presented, Les cigales, masterfully depicts cicadas and their raucous noises, while the second, Vilanelle des petits canards, describes the wide range of vocalizations and temperaments demonstrated by little ducks. Chabrier, born in 1841, was a member of the first generation of French mélodie (accompanied art song) composers. Unlike most mélodies, which typically contain themes of disillusioned love or the extremes of human beauty and sorrow, Chabrier chose to use humorous texts enhanced by the interplay between piano accompaniment and soloist to present light texts with comedic gravitas. This style of text setting almost certainly influenced Francis Poulenc, whose compositions were marked by his use of parody, jest, and unexpected musical timbres. While it is not clear whether Chabrier was the first to employ humor in his mélodies, his legacy does remain as the first composer to make the trend popular in fashionable French circles. Future research on this topic may include an analysis of Poulenc’s works with an eye toward Chabrier’s influence. Additionally, future research on the topic of humor in art songs (beyond the French mélodie genre) may prove beneficial.

The following are links to the other (non-document) components of the presentation (1. Oral Presentation, 2. Performing Arts Presentation)

https://youtu.be/YPeR1SFDepw

https://youtu.be/9m95wxwORCY?si=O3OTXQx-X7BdRCO2

Area of Specialization

Creative Arts

Recommended Citation

Dornfeld, Hope V. (2025) "Of Cicadas and Ducks: Humor in Emmanuel Chabrier's "Les cigales" and "Villanelle des petits canards"," Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship: Vol. 12, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/montview/vol12/iss1/1