Paul Valry and Music

This 1984 book was the first to investigate the full implications of Paul Valry's interest in the relationship between music and poetry. The book is more of a survey of all that Valry 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 Valry'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 Valry's theoretical consideration of the links between music and poetry. The third section studies the musical techniques in Valry's poetry - melody, harmonics, rhythm, musique verbale, and recitative. This will be an important book for serious students of Valry's poetry and all those interested in the relationship between poetry and music.