The term “swan song” refers to a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement1. It originates from the ancient belief that swans, which are typically silent throughout their lives, sing a beautiful and mournful song just before they die. This concept, while poetically rich, is not based on biological fact, as swans do have a variety of vocal sounds and do not actually sing before they die2.
When referring to Chopin’s Barcarolle, the term “swan song” could be used metaphorically to describe this piece as one of the final masterpieces of Chopin’s career. The Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60, is a piece for solo piano composed between autumn of 1845 and summer 1846, three years before Chopin’s death3. It is characterized by a sweepingly romantic and slightly wistful tone, and it is often considered one of his more demanding compositions, both in execution and interpretation3. The Barcarolle captures the essence of the swan song metaphor with its profound beauty and the sense of a final, exquisite expression from the composer.
詳細情報
1 bing.com 2 en.wikipedia.org 3 en.wikipedia.org 4 youtube.com
5 youtube.com 6 youtube.com 7 imslp.org 8 ja.wikipedia.org
9 phrases.org.uk 10 nosweatshakespeare.com 11 oysterenglish.com
12 oxforddictionaries.com 13 soundline.biz 14 bing.com
+10 その他
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Note:
Prompt for this article is "Please explain "swan song", referring to the Chopin's barcarolle.".
Almost fulfilled my expect, including the picture.
日本語版はこちら
https://blog.kuma-farm-japan.jp/