Le roi des étoiles
Encyclopedia
Igor Stravinsky
's cantata
Le roi des étoiles was composed in 1911-12 to a text by the Russian poet Konstantin Bal'mont and published in 1913 by P. Jurgenson
. Although the original Russian title (Звездоликий or Zvezdoliki) literally means "Star-face" or "The Star-Faced One", the work is more commonly known by the French title as translated by Michel Dimitri Calvocoressi
. The usual English version is The King of the Stars.
The work is very rarely performed, primarily because it is written for an unusually large orchestra—quadruple woodwind, eight horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, tam-tam (the entire percussion section only plays in one measure), two harps, celesta, and heavily divided strings—plus six-part men's chorus
, and because it lasts barely five minutes and encompasses just 54 measures. Debussy
(to whom the work is dedicated) praised the work in a 1913 letter to the composer; though describing it as "extraordinary", he doubted that it would soon find an audience given its complexities and its short duration. In the end, Le roi des étoiles was not performed in public until 1939.
The published score does not address a significant question: whether or not the chorus to sing the chords that set the four syllables of the Russian title and that appear separately at the top of the first page. The recordings conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
on Deutsche Grammophon (Boston Symphony Orchestra
and the New England Conservatory Chorus, 1972), Riccardo Chailly
on Decca/London (Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
and Chorus, 1984), Robert Craft
on Music Masters Classics (Orchestra of St. Luke's
and the Gregg Smith Singers
, 1995), and Pierre Boulez
on Deutsche Grammophon (Cleveland Orchestra
and Chorus, 1996) all include them.
Ses yeux sont pareils aux étoiles
aux feux qui sillonnent l'espace;
sa face au soleil est semblable,
quand l'astre rayonne au zénith.
Des cieux les couleurs lumineuses,
la pourpre, l'azur, l'or diaprent
la robe éclatante qu'il porte
pour naître à nouveau parmi nous.
Autour de lui brillle la dides
entourent son chef rayonnent.
L'éclair vient frapper les collines,
fait naître des fleurs printanières.
«Gardez-vous le Verbe?» dit-il,
et nous tous répondîmes «Toujours!»
«Je regne» -dit-il- «sans partagé.
Plus fort gronde alors le tonnerre.
«C'est l'heure:» dit-il en son gloire.
«Les moissons attendent. Amen.»
Pieux et fervents, nous suivîmes.
La foudre fondait les nuages.
Sept gloires d'étoiles splendides
montrait du désert le chemin.
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
's cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
Le roi des étoiles was composed in 1911-12 to a text by the Russian poet Konstantin Bal'mont and published in 1913 by P. Jurgenson
P. Jurgenson
P. Jurgenson was, in the early 1900s, the largest publisher of classical sheet music in Russia.- History :Founded in 1861, the firm — in its original form, or as it was amalgamated in 1918 with other Russian music publishing firms into the state owned music publishing monopoly —...
. Although the original Russian title (Звездоликий or Zvezdoliki) literally means "Star-face" or "The Star-Faced One", the work is more commonly known by the French title as translated by Michel Dimitri Calvocoressi
Michel Dimitri Calvocoressi
Michel Dimitri Calvocoressi was a music writer and music critic of Greek descent....
. The usual English version is The King of the Stars.
The work is very rarely performed, primarily because it is written for an unusually large orchestra—quadruple woodwind, eight horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, tam-tam (the entire percussion section only plays in one measure), two harps, celesta, and heavily divided strings—plus six-part men's chorus
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, and because it lasts barely five minutes and encompasses just 54 measures. Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
(to whom the work is dedicated) praised the work in a 1913 letter to the composer; though describing it as "extraordinary", he doubted that it would soon find an audience given its complexities and its short duration. In the end, Le roi des étoiles was not performed in public until 1939.
The published score does not address a significant question: whether or not the chorus to sing the chords that set the four syllables of the Russian title and that appear separately at the top of the first page. The recordings conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
on Deutsche Grammophon (Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
and the New England Conservatory Chorus, 1972), Riccardo Chailly
Riccardo Chailly
Riccardo Chailly, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian conductor. He started his career as an opera conductor and gradually extended his repertoire to encompass symphonic music.-Biography:...
on Decca/London (Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin is an orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 1946 by American occupation forces as the RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester . It was also known as the American Sector Symphony Orchestra...
and Chorus, 1984), Robert Craft
Robert Craft
Robert Lawson Craft is an American conductor and writer. He is best known for his intimate working friendship with Igor Stravinsky, a relationship which resulted in a number of recordings and books.-Life:...
on Music Masters Classics (Orchestra of St. Luke's
Orchestra of St. Luke's
The Orchestra of St. Luke's is an American chamber orchestra based in New York City.It was founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York....
and the Gregg Smith Singers
Gregg Smith Singers
The Gregg Smith Singers is a mixed chorus from the United States, directed by Gregg Smith . The group, which comprises 16 singers, was founded at an all-Japanese Methodist church in West Los Angeles, California in 1955, while Smith was studying for his master's degree in music at the University of...
, 1995), and Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
on Deutsche Grammophon (Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
and Chorus, 1996) all include them.
Ses yeux sont pareils aux étoiles
aux feux qui sillonnent l'espace;
sa face au soleil est semblable,
quand l'astre rayonne au zénith.
Des cieux les couleurs lumineuses,
la pourpre, l'azur, l'or diaprent
la robe éclatante qu'il porte
pour naître à nouveau parmi nous.
Autour de lui brillle la dides
entourent son chef rayonnent.
L'éclair vient frapper les collines,
fait naître des fleurs printanières.
«Gardez-vous le Verbe?» dit-il,
et nous tous répondîmes «Toujours!»
«Je regne» -dit-il- «sans partagé.
Plus fort gronde alors le tonnerre.
«C'est l'heure:» dit-il en son gloire.
«Les moissons attendent. Amen.»
Pieux et fervents, nous suivîmes.
La foudre fondait les nuages.
Sept gloires d'étoiles splendides
montrait du désert le chemin.
External links
- Stravinsky's pre-1923 works which are public domain in the USA. (Alphabetized under 'Le...')