Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:51

"How Can the Tree but Wither?" is a choral work composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1948. The piece was premiered on October 7, 1948, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, conducted by the composer himself. The work is a setting of a poem by Robert Bridges, which explores the theme of mortality and the transience of life. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the poem's theme. The first movement, "The Tree," is a slow and mournful setting of the opening lines of the poem, which describe the inevitability of death and decay. The music is characterized by long, sustained chords and a somber, introspective mood. The second movement, "The Leaves," is a more lively and energetic setting of the middle section of the poem, which celebrates the beauty and vitality of life. The music is characterized by a faster tempo, brighter harmonies, and a more optimistic mood. The final movement, "The Fruit," returns to the somber mood of the opening, as the poem reflects on the ultimate fate of all living things. The music is characterized by a slow, mournful melody and a sense of resignation and acceptance. Throughout the piece, Vaughan Williams employs his characteristic style of choral writing, which emphasizes the beauty and power of the human voice. The music is characterized by rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and a deep sense of emotional intensity. The work is a powerful meditation on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, and it remains one of Vaughan Williams' most moving and profound compositions.

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