Variations concertantes sur le nom de Paul Verlaine pour basson et orchestre: "Éclatant, le soleil surgit"

(Concert Variations on the Name of Paul Verlaine for Bassoon and Orchestra: "The Sun Bursts and Rises")

"Éclatant, le soleil surgit: c'est le matin!" ("Bursting forth, the sun rises up: it's morning!")

This concise preludial movement evokes the image of the rising sun as expressed in Verlaine's "Les vaincus," the final poem of the "Vers jeunes" in the collection Jadis et naguère. The seven-note "Verlaine" motto is presented as a declamatory rhythmic motive in the solo bassoon at the very beginning, followed by a dramatic sequential ascent from a low C to the e lying a major tenth above. The strings imitate the motive just before it recurs high in the bassoon, first in its original melodic and rhythmic form, then immediately afterwards in diminution. At the conclusion of additional sequential materal, the bassoon surges smoothly upward, its ascent echoed by the violas as the music softens and fades to a pale rosy hue. Now the bassoon makes a final impassioned statement, its last syllable, at first softly spoken, growing in intensity until it attains a joyous intensity that fairly bursts forth from the womb of night. The poet is born!