W328: Bleus
Publisher: Enoch
Date: 1898
Instrumentation: voice: high or medium
Dedicated to Rqymond Chanoine Davranches. Text by Charles Fuster. Written in F major (Enoch 3497) and D major (original key, Enoch plate 3498) This mélodie reflects on the spellbinding effect of a pair of blue eyes, compared to a flower, a lake, and the sky. Chaminade’s word painting shines at le bleu des lacs, where both hands appear in the treble staff to suggest sparkling water. A descending chord sequence beginning at mais on fait modulates from F♯ minor to D major, enhancing the piece’s expressive charm.

