Musicology essay - Plaisir D'amour

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3The piece that will be deconstructed and evaluated is a classical French song called Plaisir d'amour (pleasure of love) written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Egide-Martini (1741-1814). The text of the piece was taken from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-1794), which is seen in his novel Celestine. Jean-Paul-Égide Martini was born in the Bavarian city of Freistadt on August 31, 1741. Martini's father, a talented organist, was his first teacher. Plaisir d’amour, one of Martini’s most well-known works and was greatly successful. The musical elements of duration, structure and expressive devices will be explored in the essay.

Plaisir d'amour uses the musical element of duration effectively throughout the piece by using the vocalist’s vocal techniques and slow tempo to establish atmosphere. For example, long phrases are used by the singer to create an emotion by establishing a calm atmosphere. Almost every word that is sung in this song are extended. Long phrases are very commonly encountered in romantic, classical music. Towards the end of the song, in the third section, her voice shows a sad, fearful, and indecisive tone showing a change in tonality similar to a time signature change or change in rhythm. This is further supported by the use of a fermata/pause to lengthen the duration of the last lyrics do release tension with the vocalist. A slow tempo of 94 BPM (moderato or molto lento [very slow] according to original sheet music) allows the singer to further extend those longer notes with the support of the tempo. Therefore, Plaisir d’amour by utilising elongated/held notes which is enhanced through the tempo (moderato) displaying a calm, gentle atmosphere that exemplifies the element of duration. 

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Plaisir d’amour is structured like a typical classical, romantic song and the structure that is usually heard is the rondo form (ABACA). Section A of the piece is the main theme of the song, section B is the 2Nd theme which is pitched higher with longer phrases to convey the lyrics, then section A returns. Section C shifts to a gloomier mood, intended to create a more dramatic I        tone where the lyrics symbolise the singer’s loss for her love. Lastly, section A returns to finish the song with the main theme showing a change in atmosphere (from sorrow to pleasure) which may represent a change in the singer’s mood ...

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