Composed in 1940, the mélodies were premiered at salle Gaveau, on 14 December 1940, by Pierre Bernac (baritone) and the composer (piano).[1]
Titles
Chanson d’Orkenise
Hôtel
Fagnes de Wallonie
Voyage à Paris
Sanglots
Source of the poems
"Chanson d'Orkenise", "Fagnes de Wallonie" and "Sanglots" are taken from the collection Il y a[2] (1925).
"Hôtel", written in 1913, was published in the posthumous collection Le Guetteur mélancolique[3] (1952).
"Voyage à Paris" was published in the Poèmes retrouvés from the Œuvres poétiques by Apollinaire in 1956.
Dedicatees
"Chanson d'Orkenise" is dedicated to Claude Rostand, "Hôtel" to Marthe Bosredon,[4] "Fagnes de Wallonie" to Ms. Henri Frédéricq, "Voyage à Paris" to Paul Éluard, and "Sanglots" to Suzette Chanlaire.[5][1]