Simple

As Printed on a Score

Printed above the staff or over the voice, often paired with another character word (simple et songeur) at the start of a song or phrase. It sets an unadorned manner until another character marking.

How Composers Use It

It asks for plainness: straightforward delivery without affectation, sentimental rubato or exaggerated dynamics, letting the melody speak for itself. It is close to the Italian semplice, and the adverb simplement does the same job. Boulanger joins it to songeur (pensive), showing that simplicity can still carry a mood. Use it where performers might over-interpret.

Example

Boulanger, Clairières dans le ciel, “Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie”, voice, m. 1: “simple et songeur”, under “Modéré” and at p.

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