Gabriel Faure ─ The Songs and Their Poets

Johnson (accompaniment, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, UK) examines the songs of French composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) within the context of his life and the lives of poets whose texts he used, such as Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Leconte de Lisle, Armand Silvestre, Charles Van Lerberghe, Victor Hugo, and Jean de La Ville de Mirmont. Each of Faure's 109 songs is analyzed in chronological order, with historical and biographical context, and discussion of their features, interpretation, and style, along with chapters on the interpretation and performance of the songs by singers and pianists. English translations are provided. Johnson directed a project in which each of the songs was performed by student singers and pianists, and the book is the outcome of that experience. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Graham Johnsona€?s career as a distinguished concert accompanist has always encompassed his activities as a scholar of song and planner of recital programmes. Founder of the Songmakersa€? Almanac, he has written the notes for his recordings of the complete songs of Schubert and Schumann. Author of A French Song Companion and Britten: Voice and Piano (the latter for Ashgate) he has masterminded Hyperion Recorda€?s French Song Edition, including the complete Chabrier and FaurAc songs. He was appointed OBE in 1994 and Chevalier de la€?ordre des arts et des lettres in 2002. He is Senior Professor of accompaniment at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.