Composer

:

Michael Nyman

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1990

Average_duration

:

34:55

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Celan Songs (6) is a song cycle composed by Michael Nyman in 1990. The work is based on the poetry of Paul Celan, a Romanian-born German-language poet who wrote about the Holocaust and the aftermath of World War II. The premiere of the work was given by the soprano Ute Lemper and the Michael Nyman Band at the Almeida Theatre in London on 22 October 1990. The cycle consists of six songs, each of which sets a different poem by Celan. The first song, "Tenebrae," is a setting of a poem that describes the darkness of the night and the silence that surrounds it. The second song, "Psalm," is a setting of a poem that reflects on the nature of God and the human condition. The third song, "Es war Erde in ihnen," is a setting of a poem that describes the earth and its connection to the human body. The fourth song, "Corona," is a setting of a poem that reflects on the nature of language and its ability to convey meaning. The fifth song, "Blume," is a setting of a poem that describes a flower and its connection to the natural world. The final song, "Die Augen schließen und sehen," is a setting of a poem that reflects on the nature of perception and the human experience. The music of Celan Songs (6) is characterized by Nyman's signature minimalist style, which features repetitive patterns and simple harmonies. The vocal line is often accompanied by a sparse instrumental texture, which includes piano, violin, viola, cello, and bass guitar. The music is highly expressive and emotional, reflecting the intense and often dark subject matter of Celan's poetry. Overall, Celan Songs (6) is a powerful and moving work that explores the themes of loss, memory, and the human experience in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Its combination of Nyman's minimalist music and Celan's haunting poetry creates a work that is both beautiful and deeply affecting.

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