Composer

:

Paul Moravec

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2012

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

'Sacred Love Songs' is a choral work composed by Paul Moravec, an American composer, in 2012. The piece was commissioned by the New York-based choir, the Voices of Ascension, and premiered on May 11, 2012, at the Church of the Ascension in New York City. The work consists of six movements, each of which sets a text from the Song of Solomon, a book of the Hebrew Bible that celebrates the love between a man and a woman. The movements are titled "Awake, O North Wind," "My Beloved is Mine," "Set Me as a Seal," "How Fair and How Pleasant," "Behold, Thou Art Fair," and "Love is Strong as Death." Moravec's setting of the texts is characterized by lush harmonies, soaring melodies, and a sense of intimacy and tenderness. The music is tonal and accessible, with occasional dissonances that add a touch of modernity to the overall sound. The composer employs a variety of choral textures, from unison singing to complex polyphony, to convey the emotional depth of the texts. The first movement, "Awake, O North Wind," begins with a gentle, flowing melody that gradually builds in intensity as the choir sings of the coming of spring and the awakening of love. The second movement, "My Beloved is Mine," features a soaring soprano solo that expresses the joy and ecstasy of love. The third movement, "Set Me as a Seal," is perhaps the most famous of the six. It begins with a simple, chant-like melody that gradually expands into a lush, harmonized setting of the text. The movement ends with a powerful climax that expresses the depth of the lovers' commitment to each other. The fourth movement, "How Fair and How Pleasant," is a lively, dance-like setting of the text that celebrates the physical beauty of the lovers. The fifth movement, "Behold, Thou Art Fair," is a gentle, contemplative setting that expresses the lovers' admiration for each other's inner beauty. The final movement, "Love is Strong as Death," is a powerful setting that contrasts the transience of human life with the eternal nature of love. The movement begins with a mournful melody that gradually builds in intensity as the choir sings of the power of love to overcome even death itself. Overall, 'Sacred Love Songs' is a beautiful and moving work that celebrates the power of love and the beauty of the human spirit. Moravec's setting of the texts is sensitive and expressive, and the music is sure to touch the hearts of all who hear it.

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