3 Review(s)

This 1984 book was the first to investigate the full implications of Paul Valery's interest in the relationship between music and poetry. The book is more of a survey of all that Valery had to say on music; it examines in detail the influence of such music upon his work as a poet. The structure of the book comprises three distinct phases of argument. In the first part Dr Stimpson details Valery's contacts with the major developments in twentieth-century French music, and reveals particularly close relationshops with a number of outstanding composers and performers. Part II explores Valery's theoretical consideration of the links between music and poetry. The third section studies the musical techniques in Valery's poetry - melody, harmonics, rhythm, musique verbale, and recitative. This will be an important book for serious students of Valery's poetry and all those interested in the relationship between poetry and music.