SKU: A0.1144931

This became one of the best known tunes of the 20th century. The original version was published in 1785 and was an immediate success, a classical French love song written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816) taking its text from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794), which appears in his novel Célestine. The most famous version of the 20th century is undoubtedly that of Elvis Presley. He changed the words and only used the tune of the chorus – Plaisir D’Amour – adding in a second section to what became ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’. Joan Baez in 1966, The Seekers with Judith Durham in 2009 at their reunion concert, Nana Mouskouri, Mary Hopkins in Welsh have all recorded the song though they used different English lyrics as the basis for their versions while keeping the French Plaisir D’Amour. This arrangement uses the French lyrics and follows Martini’s original harmonies but is arranged to better suit the guitar. It is a more comprehensive song with two other sections which always return to the original Plaisir D’Amour so you might consider it a chorus. I have added a translation of the French text into English which can be sung to the Martini melody.

SKU: A0.835816

'Plaisir d'amour', composed by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816), arranged by Paul Burnell for instruments in four parts.

Duration: 3:40

The arrangement is suitable for multiple quartet combinations with parts available (and potential instrumentations suggested) as follows:

Part 1: C, Eb (flute, oboe, alto recorder, Eb clarinet, violin 1)

Part 2: C, Bb (oboe, tenor recorder, Bb clarinet, violin 2)

Part 3: C - alto & bass clefs, Bb, Eb, F (Bb clarinet, bass recorder, alto saxophone, horn in F, viola)

Part 4: C - bass clef, Bb, F (bassoon, great bass recorder, tenor saxophone, horn in F, 'cello)

Part 4 may be played an octave lower than written.

Any other appropriate instruments, even if not suggested above, may play.

Although the score is presented with a layout appropriate for string quartet this does not indicate a preferred instrumentation.

This arrangement utilises the original composition by Martini together with elements from a piano version by Rudolf Strobl (1831-1915) published in 1904.

Programme note:

'Plaisir d'amour' is a French song written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816). The melody has been arranged and performed in numerous popular music settings, including 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley.

SKU: A0.879513

Plaisir d'amour, which means Pleasure of Love in French, is a classical/romantic love song written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini (1741–1816). The lyrics come from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755–1794), which appears in his novel Célestine. This famous and beloved song has inspired many arrangements, transcriptions, and re-inventions, including Elvis Presley’s hit ballad, I Can't' Help Falling in Love with You.

This arrangement for late intermediate to early advanced piano remains true to the original vocal and piano accompaniment composition and offers the early advanced pianist challenging voicing opportunities, grace notes, and trills.

SKU: A0.808686

    This is one of the most beautifully arranged short pieces in the Sweetwater Brass Press catalog.
   Jean-Paul-Égide Martini wrote Plaisir d'amour in 1784. He took the words from a poem that appears in Célestine, a short novel by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian. The poem begins, Plaisir d'amour ne dure qu'un moment (The pleasure of love lasts only a moment). Over the years, Martini’s melody has proved popular with other composers, including Hector Berlioz and Louis van Waefelghem. Two relatively recent songs that made use of the plaintiff refrain are the Christian hymn, My God Loves Me and the song Can't Help Falling in Love, which was performed by Elvis Presley in the film, Blue Hawaii.
   This arrangement is not technically difficult, but it does require discipline and interpretation. As in the original, there are two key changes, F to A-flat and then back to F.  The time signature has been changed from Martini’s 6/8 to ¾ but retains all relative note values. Trumpet 1 plays the melody with occasional harmony from Trumpet 2. Horn in F provides arpeggio accompaniment throughout most of the song, with some help from Tuba and Trombone. With respect to high and low notes: Trumpet 1 has one A5 grace note (to a G5 quarter note); Trumpet 2 has three above-staff quarter notes in a row, A5, B5 and A5; Trombone has one F4; and Tuba has a number of F1 notes and one section of octave jumps involving F2 to F3 and A2 to A3.
   This arrangement was completed in 2018, and performance time runs about 3 minutes, 51 seconds. The arranger, Les Smith, would be very interested in your comments; contact him at lessmith@ufl.edu or leave a review on the SheetMusicPlus website. For more arrangements by Les, enter Sweetwater Brass Press (without the quotation marks) in the SheetMusicPlus search box.