Meaning of Aubade in Music
In music, an **aubade** refers to a piece that is sung or played outdoors at dawn, usually as a compliment to someone. The term "aubade" originated from the French word "aubade," which means a song or poem appropriate to or greeting the dawn. The tradition of aubades can be traced back to the troubadours of the Provençal schools of courtly love in the High Middle Ages.
The aubade gained popularity again in the 17th century with the advent of the metaphysical fashion. John Donne's poem "The Sunne Rising" is an example of an aubade in English. Aubades were also written in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 20th century, the focus of the aubade shifted from its original courtly-love context to the more generalized theme of a human parting at daybreak. French composers of the turn of the 20th century, such as Emmanuel Chabrier and Maurice Ravel, wrote a number of aubades.
Overall, an aubade in music is a piece that is performed at dawn, often as a romantic or idyllic prelude or overture
Morning music; a morning concert in the open air performed for a specific individual (such as a member of a royal family). As opposed to a serenade which is performed in the evening.
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