Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1959

Average_duration

:

1:45

'Night Crow' is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1964. The premiere of the piece was given by soprano Phyllis Curtin and pianist John Wustman at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 1965. The cycle consists of five songs, each of which sets a poem by American poet Theodore Roethke. The first song, "The Flight," is characterized by a restless, fluttering piano accompaniment that evokes the movement of a bird in flight. The vocal line is similarly agile, with frequent leaps and trills that suggest the bird's darting movements. The second song, "The Nightingale," is more lyrical and introspective, with a gentle, rocking accompaniment that supports the soaring vocal line. The third song, "The Bat," is more dissonant and unsettling, with a jagged piano accompaniment that evokes the bat's erratic flight. The vocal line is similarly fragmented, with sudden leaps and angular intervals that suggest the bat's darting movements. The fourth song, "The Owl," is characterized by a haunting, nocturnal atmosphere. The piano accompaniment is spare and atmospheric, with long, sustained chords that suggest the stillness of the night. The vocal line is similarly spare, with long, sustained notes that evoke the owl's mournful call. The final song, "The Crow," is the most dramatic and intense of the cycle. The piano accompaniment is driving and rhythmic, with a repeated, syncopated figure that suggests the crow's relentless energy. The vocal line is similarly forceful, with declamatory phrases that convey the crow's aggressive nature. Overall, 'Night Crow' is a highly evocative and atmospheric song cycle that showcases Rorem's skill at setting poetry to music. The cycle is notable for its vivid depictions of the natural world, as well as its innovative use of piano accompaniment to create a sense of movement and atmosphere.

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