Barcarole

The barcarole in music is a boating song. It is from the Italian words, barca, "bark", and rollo, a "rower". The most famous operatic barcarole is undoubtedly in Jacques Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman; while Chopin and Mendelssohn wrote barcaroles for solo piano. But my favorite is the Barcarole from Gian Carlo Menotti's ballet, Sebastian (1944). This lyrical piece is an attractive melodie that has a simple appeal which cheers me whenever I listen to it.