부산대학교 도서관

The e muet carries much importance in French. Realized as a lip-rounded schwa, this so-called mute e accounts for up to a quarter of the vowel sounds in a lyric setting. Its significance in poetry goes beyond the fact that it is so prevalent. With an absence of true metre in French, carefully constructed rhyme is of prime concern. French rhyme is governed not only by a repetition of sounds, but also in the use of word-final mute e. When it is found at the end of a verse, word-final mute e constitutes what is known as feminine rhyme. The contrasting use of masculine and feminine rhyme is a key feature of French poetry. Composers pay a great deal of attention to mute e and feminine rhyme in French vocal music. This chapter examines the unique treatment of mute e in poetry, and the way it is typically set in opera and mélodie. Analysis is provided on both conventional musical notation, as well as the treatment of mute e in post-Romantic composition. Comment on French editions is offered, and musical examples illustrate the concepts.