Arrangement for equal voices (one voice) and instrumental ensemble (flute in C, Bb clarinet, 1 percussionist [drum], harp, violin, viola, cello).
Commissioned by the Conservatory of Saint-Michel-sur-Orge (Composer residency, year 2014-2015)
Created in June 2015 at the Baschet Cultural Center in Saint-Michel-sur-Orge
Duration: 3'. Editions Francois Dhalmann
Composed in 1704, under Louis XIV, André Joubert du Collet, French lieutenant in the Royal Navy, is the supposed author of this famous song. It is probably derived from a song dating from the 16th century. Its original title, The Prisoner of Holland, corresponds to the conflicts of the XVIIth siècle (War of Holland between the French and the English). This military march alludes to his two-year captivity on the island of Noirmoutier, and to the memory of his wife. She was quickly very popular at the time among the troops.
In order to make the song shorter, and above all universal, I omitted the last verses.
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As far as the arrangement itself is concerned, a drum, with an obstinate rhythm, sustains throughout this marching song : the music comes from very far away and is lost in the distance (introduction and coda ). It is a theme and variations where the chorus is harmonized, in the style of un hunting tune, and each verse is instrumented and varied according to the meaning of the text.
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With regard to the instrumental formation, this arrangement of Auprès de ma blonde has the advantage of being able to be played, as much with school children as with a conservatory choir. As part of a school project bringing together National Education and the Conservatory, in addition to discovering the heritage of French songs - largely unknown to many school children of foreign origin - it may be their first contact with classical professional musicians (the teachers of the conservatory) playing the instruments of the orchestra.
Finally, the instrumentation being identical to Luciano Berio's Folksongs , they can be played as a preview of this work, during a concert given by the teachers. However, in an educational context, the harp can be replaced by a piano or a marimba.
