Composer

:

Michael Tippett

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Madrigal

Compose Date

:

1942

Average_duration

:

2:32

"The Windhover" is a choral work composed by Michael Tippett in 1969. It was premiered on 22nd May 1970 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, conducted by the composer himself. The piece is based on a poem of the same name by Gerard Manley Hopkins, which describes the beauty and grace of a bird in flight. The work is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the poem. The first movement, "The Windhover," is a slow and contemplative setting of the opening lines of the poem. The music is characterized by long, sustained chords and a sense of stillness, reflecting the awe and wonder of the speaker as he watches the bird in flight. The second movement, "To Christ Our Lord," is a more energetic and rhythmic setting of the middle section of the poem. The music is marked by driving rhythms and complex harmonies, reflecting the speaker's sense of exaltation and praise for the beauty of the bird. The final movement, "I Caught This Morning Morning's Minion," is a joyful and celebratory setting of the closing lines of the poem. The music is characterized by lively rhythms and soaring melodies, reflecting the speaker's sense of triumph and gratitude for the experience of witnessing the bird in flight. Overall, "The Windhover" is a powerful and evocative work that captures the beauty and majesty of nature through music. Tippett's use of complex harmonies and rhythms, combined with his sensitive and nuanced approach to the text, creates a work that is both deeply moving and intellectually engaging.

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