十首古諾歌曲之分析與詮釋

Abstract

十九世紀時，一來受到德文藝術歌曲影響，二來法國浪漫派詩人寫出許多美麗的作品，作曲家紛紛開始創作歌曲，法文藝術歌曲從浪漫曲（romance）蛻變形成。這個新的曲種在多位作曲家的努力下，茁壯成長超過一個世紀。在眾多作曲家中，拉威爾（Maurice Ravel, 1875-1937）獨尊古諾（Charles-François Gounod, 1818-1893）為法文藝術歌曲之父，足見古諾之重要性。古諾所寫的歌曲約有兩百首，歌詞除使用法文詩詞外，也有不少英文的作品。可惜的是，古諾的歌曲很少在音樂會中被演唱，也沒有中文專書將這位作曲家的音樂完整介紹給讀者。在這份詮釋報告中，本人從休東出版社（Choudens）出版的四本古諾歌曲集中選出十首法文歌曲，加以介紹分析，藉此瞭解古諾如何成功以詩入樂，在具有表現力的鋼琴伴奏烘托下，用優美的旋律唱出雋永的詩詞，提升歌曲的藝術水準。此外，本人也扼要介紹法文詩由中世紀到現代的演進以及法文藝術歌曲的起源及發展，找出古諾在這個曲種發展史上的定位。

French mélodies developed from romances when German Lieder were introduced into France and when great Romantic poets penned monumental French poems. This new genre continued to evolve because of the efforts of a succession of composers. This evolution lasted for well over a century, in which Charles-François Gounod (1818-1893) was revered by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), one of the masters of mélodies, as the founding father of French art songs. Gounod’s pivotal role is thus uncontested. He wrote approximately two hundred songs, some of which were in English, but these songs are now rarely performed in concerts and recitals. Besides, not only is the composer regularly passed over in treatises about art songs, but there is also a paucity of books and articles about him and his songs, especially in Mandarin Chinese. For these reasons, ten songs are selected from the four Gounod songbooks published by the French publisher Choudens, which was established in 1844. These songs are analyzed to see how Gounod skillfully set poems to music: The melody of the songs is beautiful. The piano accompaniment is also expressive and supports the vocal line. Together, the artistic level is elevated. Pages will also be allotted to brief introductions of French poetry from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century and of the development of French mélodies in the hands of art song masters. In this way, the place of Gounod in the century-long process of the formation of mélodies can be located.