I came across this song while I was in college. In fact, I performed
Extase in my senior recital along with works by Liszt, Franck, and Jean Berger. Duparc's
Extase was, by far, my favorite of the French songs I performed. I melt every time I listen to it. Its deep, rich churning bass lines and smooth melody wrap the listener (and the singer) in a blanket of warm sound. The piano accompaniment alone, is extremely beautiful, and the vocal line is the icing on the cake.
Don't be fooled by the song's text. The song is actually about making love. Oo la la! The text translation is as follows:
French:
- Sur un lys pâle mon coeur dort
D'un sommeil doux comme la mort
Mort exquise, mort parfumée
Du souffle de la bien aimée
Sur ton sein pâle mon coeur dort
D'un sommeil doux comme la mort
English:
- On your pale breast my heart is sleeping
In a slumber sweet like death
Exquisite death, death perfumed
By the breath of my beloved
On your pale breast my heart is sleeping
In a slumber sweet like death
Tragically, with a severely crippling condition developed at the age of 36, Duparc was unable to compose music for the remainder of his years Earth. Duparc has only 13 works published. Had he not thrown away several works with which he was dissatisfied, there would be more works for us to enjoy today.
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