Composer

:

Leon Kirchner

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Scene

Compose Date

:

1973

Average_duration

:

22:29

Lily for soprano & chamber orchestra is a composition by American composer Leon Kirchner. It was composed in 1986 and premiered on March 12, 1987, by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players with soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson as the soloist. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 20 minutes. The first movement, marked "Moderato," begins with a hauntingly beautiful melody played by the solo violin. The soprano enters with a text by Rainer Maria Rilke, singing of a lily that has been plucked and is now dying. The music is characterized by its lyrical and expressive qualities, with the soprano soaring above the delicate orchestration. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is more rhythmic and energetic than the first. The soprano sings a text by Federico Garcia Lorca, describing a bird that is trapped in a cage. The music is characterized by its driving rhythms and angular melodies, with the orchestra providing a lively and colorful accompaniment to the soprano's virtuosic vocal lines. The final movement, marked "Adagio," returns to the lyrical and expressive qualities of the first movement. The soprano sings a text by Rilke, describing the beauty of a rose that is slowly fading away. The music is characterized by its lush harmonies and soaring melodies, with the soprano and orchestra blending together in a poignant and emotional climax. Overall, Lily for soprano & chamber orchestra is a stunning work that showcases Kirchner's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create deeply expressive and moving music. The piece is a testament to the power of music to convey complex emotions and ideas, and it remains a beloved work in the repertoire of contemporary classical music.

More....