La Courte Paille

La Courte Paille (FR) The Short Straw. Poulenc's settings (1960) of seven poems from La Cage aux grillons, Le Voleur d'étincelles, and Volières (The Cricket Cage, The Sparkler Thief, and Birdcages, 1953) by Carême. Carême provided the overall title for the songs, at Poulenc's request. Poulenc writes that he had to change his poet of choice »because my swan (Bernac) is quiet« and » On the charming poems of Maurice Carême, halfway between those of Francis Jammes [1868 – 1938] and Max Jacob, I…