Composer

:

Richard Wernick

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1979

Average_duration

:

12:00

"A Poison Tree" is a contemporary classical composition by Richard Wernick, an American composer born in 1934. The piece was composed in 1976 and premiered on March 6, 1977, by the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy. The composition is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a different stanza from William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree." The first movement, "I was angry with my friend," is characterized by a slow and mournful melody played by the strings, which is then taken up by the woodwinds. The second movement, "I told my wrath, my wrath did end," is more upbeat and features a lively and playful melody played by the woodwinds and brass. The third movement, "I was angry with my foe," is the most intense and dramatic of the four. It begins with a dissonant and ominous melody played by the strings, which is then taken up by the brass. The movement builds to a frenzied climax before resolving into a quiet and contemplative coda. The final movement, "And I watered it in fears," is a haunting and melancholy piece that features a mournful melody played by the strings. The movement gradually builds in intensity before resolving into a quiet and reflective coda. Overall, "A Poison Tree" is a powerful and evocative composition that captures the emotional intensity and complexity of Blake's poem. Wernick's use of melody, harmony, and orchestration creates a rich and nuanced musical landscape that is both beautiful and unsettling.

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