Chansons Secrètes

Chansons Secrètes was originally composed on commission from Muziekcentrum De Bijloke in Ghent in 2017, for performance by four musicians from Revue Blanche at the “I had a Dream” festival in 2018. Later, Wim Henderickx created a version for voice and piano. The work consists of a prologue, five songs based on the original (uncensored) poems “Les Chansons Secrètes de Bilitis” by Pierre Louÿs, four solo cadenzas for the various musicians and an epilogue. A sensual, erotic atmosphere pervades both the poems and the music. The five songs:... la pluie chaude de mon désir...... dans la nuit...... d'abord je n'ai pas répondu...... un divertissement...... un cri de souffrance...