Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: french
Song Meaning of “Thaïs, Act II: Méditation” by Jules Massenet
This beautiful song is an instrumental piece from Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs, written in 1894. The song is set in the aftermath of a conversation between two lovers, Thaïs and Athanaël. The song begins with a soft, yet powerful piano melody, followed by delicate violin accompaniment that sets the stage for an emotive interpretation of the lovers’ parting.
The song’s melody is evocative of dreamy recollections of the pair’s past blissful moments together, while the strings slowly swell, almost like an ache of sorrow as the moments begin to slip away without them. The solo violin sings out a sorrowful longing, while the piano quietly plucks away in the background, representing the quiet realization of the moment passing.
The swelling strings later bring forth an almost hopeful tone, as though the lovers are still clinging to memories of past love, afraid to let go, yet also knowing that the moment is coming when they must part. The graceful single notes of the piano at the end of the piece symbolizes the bittersweet nature of love and life, and the delicate understanding that moments of joy must eventually come to an end.