What is barcarolle? Is barcarolle a folk genre, or is it still a professional one? The most unusual song of the Romantic era.

Each individual nation formed its own traditions, which concerned not only everyday life, but also various branches of art. Of course, Italy and its famous region of Venice have a huge cultural heritage. In the vastness of this city, which stretches across the bay and numerous rivers, a new vocal and instrumental genre was born - barcarolle. This is a kind of gondolier's song, which, according to legend, he always hums while performing his duty.

A little history

From the very moment when Venice first grew on the waters, and numerous boats began to ply between houses, a new profession appeared in the city - gondolier. The man who took tourists and locals on his little boat, for fun or business, always hummed some typically Italian melody, which soon became known as the “barcarolle.” These could be songs with words that most often conveyed the whole essence of the life of such people, or simply melodies that were sung on one of the vowel sounds. In any case, passengers always enjoyed listening to the gondolier, and gradually their folk, unwritten work acquired official status. By the beginning of the 18th century, almost everyone in the world already knew what a barcarolle was.

The most unusual song of the Romantic era

In the 18th century, songs of Venetian gondoliers began to appear on the pages of musical dictionaries. By the 19th century, every professional musician or composer clearly knew what a barcarolle was. The definition was drawn up in those years, and in the same form it has survived to this day. Musical dictionaries say that this is a folk one, which is of Venetian origin. Characterized by a lyrical character, sentimentality and melodiousness. It is also characteristic that a barcarolle is a song that has a non-standard rhythm - 6/8 or 12/8. According to professionals, such a musical time signature reminds listeners of rocking on the waves. It is the most measured and at the same time allows the singer to feel free when performing.

The song of gondoliers in the works of great composers

The heyday of this musical genre occurred at the very peak of the Romantic era - in the 19th century. During this period, such famous people as Schubert, Chopin, Grieg, Jan Gall, Mendelssohn, Weber and Rossini created their masterpieces. Among our brilliant fellow countrymen who also worked within the framework of this musical style, it is worth mentioning Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It was they who, as can be heard from their works, knew for sure that the barcarolle was one of the most romantic, tender and touching plays. And playing their creations now, you can listen to every note, enjoying the beauty and uniqueness of arpeggios and chords.

Let's listen and enjoy

We figured out what barcarolle is from a professional point of view. Now we suggest looking at a list of the most famous works that will allow you to hear and understand how this genre sounds using a clear example. Simple in execution and at the same time incredibly beautiful is the barcarolle by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, which is part of the cycle “The Seasons, July”. Another boatman's song, which was written specifically for piano, is the creation of Frederic Chopin - op. 60. Rachmaninov, Bartok, Fauré and many other geniuses also wrote their barcarolles for this purpose. But performed by ensembles and even a symphony orchestra you can hear Glinka’s barcarolle, called “The Blues Fell Asleep.” Franz Schubert wrote his unique barcarolle “The Gondolier” for choral groups.

The musical characteristics of the folk barcarolle are a minor scale, 6/8 time signature, a monotonous rhythmic pattern and the use of triplets, using characteristic Italian thirds. The speed of execution is one of the varieties of moderate tempos (andantino, andante cantabile, alegretto moderato). The character of the melody is lyrical, dreamy, light and calm. All this evokes associations with the rocking of a boat on the waves and the striking of an oar on the water surface.

Literally translated from Italian, “barcarolle” means a rocking boat (barca - boat, rollare - to experience roll).

Dictionaries and encyclopedias give the following definition of this concept: the song of the Venetian gondoliers (gondolieri or barcaruoli), “the boatman’s song” or “the song on the water.”

In modern interpretation, the term barcarolle includes a vocal or instrumental piece written in the style of such a song.

The fact is that with the beginning of the era of musical romanticism, the content of European music was transformed under the influence of folklore. The gondolier “stepped” beyond folk art and became a professional genre.

The use of barcarolle in the classical format was started by the French composer A. Campra, who wrote the opera “The Venetian Feast” in 1710. Although musicologists give primacy in this matter to F. Ober (“Mute from Portici”, “Fra Diavolo”, etc.). Be that as it may, they were followed by other French and Italian composers: F. Herold (“Tsampa”) , J. Gall "Barcarolle", G. Rossini ("William Tell"), etc. One of the most famous in world musical culture is the barcarolle “Beautiful night, oh night” from J. Offenbach’s opera “The Tales of Hoffmann”. The duet for soprano and mezzo-soprano “The moon is pouring pearly light” has been an adornment of the concert repertoire of leading opera divas for many years . Offenbach's music is heard not only on stage, but also in cinema (the film Life is Beautiful, 1997).

Having become a genre of professional music, barcarolle was slightly modified in comparison with folk music: it added major modes, meter 12/8 or 3/4, multiple parts, etc. But the main thing was that the simplicity and artlessness of Italian music, the calm and restraint of its sound were preserved, smooth and melodious flow of sounds. Some classical works are based on authentic folk melodies. For example, “The Gondolier” from the piano cycle “Venice and Naples” by F. Liszt. Such musicians as B. Bartok, J-A turn to writing instrumental barcarolles as independent musical works. Ravina, F. Schubert, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. French composer G. Fauré is the author of 13 dreamy and contemplative lyrical barcarolles.

Instrumental works written in this genre are called “songs without words,” thereby emphasizing their belonging to love lyrics. The imagination of composers depicts the blossoming of feelings in the lap of nature. F. Schubert’s play “The Fisherman’s Luck of Love” and F. Chopin’s inspired opus “Barcarolle, op.60" are close to the poem in genre. These are sensual stories with confessions and kisses accompanied by the whisper of leaves and the splash of water.

The variety of interpretations of this musical form is complemented by:

• choral barcarolles: “The Gondolier” (F. Schubert) and “Twenty Romances and Songs for Women’s Choir” (I. Brahms)
• ensemble instrumental presentation of pieces: for violin and piano (E. Soret), for flute and piano (A. Casella).

Barcarolle as an example of Russian musical romanticism

The fusion of landscape and experience, the unity of the pictorial and expressive - this is what the barcarolle embodies.

Russian composers of the era of musical romanticism brought sincerity, light sadness and spirituality to the melodic love songs of Italian gondoliers. The works of S. Rachmaninov, A. Lyadov, A. Arensky, A. Glazunov, A. Rubinstein, I. Laskovsky, S. Lyapunov, which have become classics of this genre, are still included in popular collections of pedagogical repertoire for professionals and amateurs of piano music.

The romance “The blue ones fell asleep...” by M. Glinka and the play “June” from the cycle “The Seasons” by P. Tchaikovsky are surprisingly good. Largely due to the fact that they were written under the impression of the composers’ visit to the Queen of the Adriatic - Venice.

Of the Russian vocal barcarolles, “Song of the Vedenets Guest,” written by N. Rimsky-Korsakov for the opera “Sadko,” is recognized throughout the world as the most unusual. The Venetian merchant performing it is so eloquent and convincing that Sadko decides to go overseas to the mysterious country of Vedenets (as Venice was called in Rus') for happiness for Novgorod.

The heyday of barcarolle occurred at the beginning of the 19th century. But to say that this beautiful word fell out of use with the end of the era of romanticism would not be entirely correct. In the 20th century, composers such as F. Poulenc, J. Gershwin, and L. Bernstein turned to writing music in the barcarolle style. Today, while taking a walk along the canals of Venice, tourists have the opportunity to hear melodic and bright Italian songs from the lips of gondoliers.
Just don’t ask them to sing “O Sole Mio” - the song has nothing to do with the history of the city or the “songs of the boatmen”. But the Neapolitan barcarolle, dedicated to the beauty of the coastal town of Santa Lucia, is what most likely inspired Evgenia Zikh to write poetic lines: “Barcarolle captivates me.” And the sounds are so wonderfully good. There is a lot of gentle minor in them. They are the consonance of my soul."

The Italian word "barka" means boat. A derivative of it is the barcarolle - the boatman's song. Perhaps someone will be surprised: why should the songs sung by boatmen be given a special name! After all, they can sing the same thing as everyone else... But they can’t. These songs are unusual, as are the boatmen who perform them. was born in the wonderful Italian city of Venice. Built on numerous islands, Venice has almost no streets. Instead, the city is cut through by canals. The doors of the houses open directly into the canals, and long black boats - gondolas - are tied to the steps. In such boats, silently gliding along the endless ribbons of canals, barcarolles were born - songs of gondolier boatmen. These songs are smooth and melodious, accompanied by measured swaying in a peculiar rhythm, as if from waves rolling in one after another.
Composers fell in love with the soft song rhythm of the barcarolle (sometimes called a gondolier), and after the Venetian folk songs, barcarolles appeared, created by composers from different countries, vocal and piano barcarolles. In Mendelssohn we find Barcarolle in his “Songs without Words”, in Tchaikovsky - in the collection “The Seasons”, this is the play “June”. Barcarolles were written by Glinka, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Lyadov. And of the vocal barcarolles, the most famous and most unusual was written by Rimsky-Korsakov. This is “Song of the Vedenetsky Guest” in the opera “Sadko”. In the old days in Rus', Venice was called Vedenets, and for the Venetian merchant - the Vedenets guest - the composer composed an aria in the rhythm and character of a Venetian folk song, barcarolle.

View value Barcarolle in other dictionaries

Barcarolle- barcarolles, w. (Italian barcarola) (music). A type of musical or vocal work of a melodic nature at a slow tempo. (After the names of the songs of Venetian gondoliers.)
Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Barcarolle J.— 1. Song of the Venetian gondoliers. 2. A vocal or instrumental work of a lyrical nature in the style of such a song.
Explanatory Dictionary by Efremova

Barcarolle- -s; and. [ital. barcarola from barca - boat].
1. Song of the Venetian gondoliers.
2. An instrumental or vocal work of a lyrical nature in the style of such a song.
Kuznetsov's Explanatory Dictionary

Barcarolle- (Italian barcarola - from barca - boat), song of the Venetian gondoliers; The soft, swinging movement of the melody and lyrical character are typical. Many composers have created vocal........
Large encyclopedic dictionary

Barcarolle— - song of the Venetian gondoliers.
Historical Dictionary

Barcarolle (Italian barcarola, from barca - boat) - an instrumental or vocal piece,
inspired by the songs of Venetian gondoliers; folk song of the Venetian gondoliers.

S. Dorofeev. Barcarolle.

Barcarolle is characterized by a moderate tempo and meter of 6/8 or 12/8, with accompaniment,
depicting the splash of waves outside the gondola.
The barcarolle melody is smooth and is often accompanied by elements
musical imagery.
The character of the barcarolle is lyrical, often with a tinge of melancholy or light dreaminess.

I.K. Aivazovsky. Gondolier on the sea at night

In the 18th century, barcarolle became a genre of professional music. Particularly widespread
in the 19th century. Such barcarolles sometimes lack some typical signs of folk
barcarolles (for example, the major scale is used, size 12/8, 3/4).
This musical form flourished during the Romantic era.
Barcarolle as a genre of chamber vocal music is represented in the works of F. Schubert (“Barcarolle”,
“The Love Happiness of a Fisherman”), F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, M. I. Glinka (“The Blues Fell Asleep”). Available
and choral barcarolles - by F. Schubert (“The Gondolier”), J. Brahms (in “Twenty Romances and Songs
for women's choir", op. 44).

Many barcarolles are written for piano. Of these, the barcarolle op. 60 F.
Chopin is a play that approaches the genre of a poem. Barcarolles for piano were also written
F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (pieces from “Songs without Words”, op. 19 No. 6, op. 30 No. 6, op. 62 No. 5),
P. I. Tchaikovsky (barcarolle from The Four Seasons), A. K. Lyadov (op. 44), S. V. Rachmaninov
(op. 10 No. 3, for piano 4 hands - op. 11 No. 1, for 2 pianos - op. 5 No. 1),
G. Fauré (13 barcarolles), B. Bartok.

Some barcarolles are based on authentic folk melodies. For example, “The Gondolier” by F. Liszt from
piano cycle "Venice and Naples" based on a melody published in Italian
composer Porukini folk barcarolle, which L. Beethoven had previously processed in his
"24 songs of different nations."

Claude Monet. Gondola.

The surface of the seas is reflected,
Rich Venice has fallen asleep,
The damp fog smoked and the moon
The high strongholds have been honed.
The running of a distant sail is barely visible,
Cold evening wave
The waters barely make noise with the oars of the gondola
And repeats the sounds of barcarolle.

It seems to me that this is the groan of the night,
How we, dissatisfied with our peace,
But again the song! and the guitars are ringing again!
Oh, be afraid, husbands, of this free song.
I advise, although it hurts me,
Do not let your beautiful women go;
But if you yourself are unfaithful at this moment,
Then, friends! may there be peace between you!

And peace be with you, beautiful Chichizbey,
And peace be with you, crafty Melina.
Ride along at the whim of the seas,
Love often protects the abyss;
Although fate reigns over the sea,
The eternal persecutor of happy people,
But the talisman of the desert kiss
Leads the hearts away with dark dreams.

Hand with hand, giving freedom to the eyes,
They sit in the boat and whisper among themselves;
She entrusts the monthly rays
Young breast with a captivating hand,
Hitherto covered under the epanchoa,
To press the young man more tightly to his lips;
Meanwhile, in the distance, now sad, now cheerful,
The sound of an ordinary barcarolle was heard:

Like a breeze in the distant sea,
My shuttle is always free;
Like a fast flowing river,
My oar never gets tired.

The gondola glides on the water,
And time flies in love;
The water will become equal again,
Passion will never be resurrected.

Mikhail Lermontov.

Beginning with the opera “Feast of Venice” by A. Campra (1710), the barcarolle was used in operas
mainly Italian and French composers - G. Paisiello, L. J. F. Herold
(“Zampa”), F. Obera (“The Mute of Portici”, “Fra Diavolo”, etc.), G. Rossini (“William Tell”,
“Othello”), J. Offenbach (“The Tales of Hoffmann”). The widely known barcarolle written
Rimsky-Korsakov (“Song of the Vedenetsky Guest”) for the opera “Sadko”. In ancient times in Rus', Venice
was called Vedenets, and for the Venetian merchant - Vedenets guest - the composer composed an aria
in the rhythm and character of the Venetian folk song - barcarolles.
In the 20th century, barcarolles were written by Francis Poulenc, George Gershwin “Dance of the Waves,” and Leonard Bernstein.

Richard Johnson. Golden Channel.

You are with me.
You don't need more happiness.
Melancholy will pass me by.
With a quiet splash on the granite fence
The river breaks the silver trail.

Two fragments
There's a twinkle in your eyes.
Love swaddles us with soft silk.
Floats unnoticed with the current
Everything that turns our blood into water.

Barcarolle - Rahm Brown.

A barcarolle is also sometimes called a gondolier.

Pierre Auguste Renoir. Gondola on the Grand Canal in Venice.