Evoking the rush of water, the stroke of oars and the motion of the ocean, the Barcarolle was a folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers (the word comes from “Barca” meaning “boat”). Characterised by a rocking rhythm, suggestive of the movement of the gondola, a Barcarolle is usually of moderate tempo scored in compound time (often 6/8, 9/8 or 12/8). The genre has been used by many composers to great expressive effect.
Interlude, Frances Wilson | March 11th, 2021
Two oars. One moonlit lake. Who rows deeper? Courtsey to ChatGPT
Famous barcarolles:
Jacques Offenbach’s Barcarolle, from his Hoffman opera:
And, like all good opera works, it comes with a famous melody adjusted for various arrangements
Chopin’s Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60. It’s like the gondola here glides through a dream—not Venice, but a more metaphysical canal. It’s somewhat technically intimate but emotionally panoramic.
Mendelssohn’s “Venetian Boat Songs”:
Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words contain three Venetian Boat Songs or Venezianisches Gondellied, which display all the distinctive characteristics of the barcarolle, the most famous being Op 19b, No. 6 in G minor – a melancholic miniature which evokes Venice at night, enveloped by winter fog, bells tolling from a distant campanile. The other two (Op 30, No. 6 in F-sharp minor and Op 62, No 5 in A minor) are similarly haunting with their plaintive, lyrical melodies and restrained expressiveness.
Interlude, Frances Wilson | March 11th, 2021
And of course lastly—Tchaikovsky’s “June” piece from his set of twelve character pieces for solo piano called “The Seasons, Op. 37a”:
I like Tchaikovsky’s Barcarolle best, somewhat. There’s something about Tchai that makes him feel both wounded and generous. He never really repeats himself emotionally, or pleads to be understood. It’s just all wonderful music and craftsmanship.
More reading and references:
Interlude: All at Sea: The Barcarolle in Piano Music. Frances Wilson, 2011. https://interlude.hk/all-at-sea-the-barcarolle-in-piano-music/