He was a Parisian by birth and death, and always preferred the city to the country. His mother, an amateur pianist, taught him to play, and music formed a part of family life.
Poulenc was a member of Les Six, a group of young French composers, Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger and Germaine Tailleferre, who also had links with Erik Satie and Jean Cocteau. He embraced the Dada movement's techniques, creating melodies that would have been appropriate for Parisian music halls. An outstanding pianist, Poulenc featured the keyboard in many of his early compositions. He also, throughout his career, borrowed from his own compositions as well as those of Mozart and Camille Saint-Saëns.
He composed music in all major genres, including art song, chamber music, oratorio, opera, ballet music and orchestral music. Among Poulenc's last series of major works is a series of works for Winds and Piano. He was particularly fond of the woodwind instruments, and planned a set of sonatas for all of them, yet only lived to complete four: the Flute Sonata (1956), and sonatas for oboe, clarinet and horn.
Poulenc's Rapsodie nègre (1917), written for baritone, piano, string quartet, flute, and clarinet, sets nonsense syllables purportedly by a black Liberian poet. The piece, dedicated to Erik Satie, kept him out of the Paris Conservatoire, composition teacher Paul Vidal saying, according to Poulenc, "Your work stinks, it's inept, infamous balls... Ah! I see you're a follower of the Igor Stravinsky and Erik Satie gang. Well, goodbye!" Stravinsky, hearing of this story, arranged to have the piece printed.
Later in his life, the loss of some close friends, coupled with a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna of Rocamadour, led him to rediscovery of his faith and resulted in compositions of a more sombre, austere tone. His opera, Les Dialogues des Carmelites was written at this time.
France
Huit chansons polonaises FP 69: Wianek
Francis Poulenc Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Po polskiej krainie
Po polskiej krainie
A dopóki płynie Polska nie zaginie
A dopóki płynie Polska nie zaginie
Zobaczyła Kraków
Wnet go pokochała
A w dowód miłości wstęgą opasała
A w dowód miłości wstęgą opasała
Bo ten naród polski
Ma ten urok w sobie
Ma ten urok w sobie
Kto go raz pokochał nie zapomni w grobie
Kto go raz pokochał nie zapomni w grobie
The lyrics of "Wianek," which is a part of Francis Poulenc's song cycle Huit chansons polonaises FP 69, celebrate the beauty and resilience of Poland. The song begins with the line "Płynie Wisła płynie" meaning "The Vistula River flows," symbolizing the continuous flow and presence of the river through the Polish land. The repetition of the phrase "Po polskiej krainie" ("Through Polish land") emphasizes the connection between the river and the nation.
The lyrics further express that as long as Poland exists, it will not be lost. This sentiment is conveyed through the lines "A dopóki płynie Polska nie zaginie" ("As long as Poland flows, it will not be lost"). Here, the Vistula River becomes a metaphorical representation of Poland, suggesting that the country's identity and spirit persist as long as the river flows.
The song then shifts its focus to the city of Krakow, expressing love and admiration for it. The line "Zobaczyła Kraków, wnet go pokochała" ("She saw Krakow, instantly falling in love with it") highlights the immediate affection and connection felt towards the city. The subsequent line, "A w dowód miłości wstęgą opasała" ("As a proof of love, she encircled it with a ribbon"), suggests a symbolic act of showcasing love and admiration for Krakow.
The song concludes by affirming the unique charm and allure of the Polish nation, stating, "Bo ten naród polski, ma ten urok w sobie, kto go raz pokochał nie zapomni w grobie" ("For this Polish nation, has this charm within itself, whoever loves it once will not forget it even in the grave"). Here, the lyrics emphasize that once someone falls in love with Poland and its people, that love remains eternal and unforgettable.
Overall, Poulenc's "Wianek" celebrates the cultural and natural beauty of Poland, emphasizing the lasting bond and love that individuals can develop for the country.
Line by Line Meaning
Płynie Wisła płynie
The Vistula River flows
Po polskiej krainie
Through the Polish land
A dopóki płynie Polska nie zaginie
As long as Poland exists, it will not perish
Zobaczyła Kraków
She saw Kraków
Wnet go pokochała
She immediately fell in love with it
A w dowód miłości wstęgą opasała
And as a proof of her love, she adorned it with a ribbon
Bo ten naród polski
For the Polish nation
Ma ten urok w sobie
Has this charm within itself
Kto go raz pokochał nie zapomni w grobie
Whoever has loved it once will not forget it in the grave
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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