Diary of My Songs

by Francis Poulenc, Graham Johnson (Preface), Winifred Radford (Translation)

Many of Francis Poulenc's songs are verses by 20th-century French poets set to music, and this diary is an answer to what the composer felt were frequent misinterpretations of his work. To set the record straight, Poulenc describes the origins of each song, comments on performances, offers guidelines for interpretation of his work, and discusses his methods for arranging vocal music. In this new edition of the diary, the original French text and the English translation appear on facing pages, and a bibliography, a discography, and extensive notes are included.

Genres: Music

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Selin]

Wanna read

[Bruce Nesmith]

Not a diary of daily life but a series of instructions, compiled over a period of nearly twenty years, on how his songs should be sung (inspired by a woman he heard "caterwauling" on the radio in November 1939). I don't know much of Poulenc's music but am inspired to find some to listen to. The English language editor promises that with certain of Poulenc's songs "Paris returns in a flash... the stamping ground of Cocteau and Picasso, the site of Max Jacob's slum and Marie-Blanche de Polignac's salon."

[Ruth]

I've turned to this book time and again...as a voice teacher I've used it to help me know the origins and thoughts behind the songs written by the composer. It's fun to read the dual-language version and see things in the original French (but have the comfort of a really good English translation side-by-side). I love Poulenc's songs, and I appreciate this great resource book for singers and singing teachers.

[Charlotte]

How could it be that so many modest poems had appeared there in such modest guise?
- Poulenc