Composer

:

Charles-Valentin Alkan

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1859

Publication Date

:

1859

Average_duration

:

6:33

Charles-Valentin Alkan's 'Super flumina Babylonis (Psalm 137), Op. 52' is a choral work that was composed in 1856. The piece was premiered in Paris in the same year, and it consists of three movements. The first movement of the piece is marked 'Lento', and it begins with a somber and mournful choral introduction. The text of the psalm is sung in Latin, and the music is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance. The movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet and reflective coda. The second movement is marked 'Allegro', and it features a lively and rhythmic choral setting of the psalm. The music is characterized by its use of syncopation and irregular meters, and it has a joyful and celebratory character. The movement ends with a triumphant choral flourish. The final movement is marked 'Lento', and it returns to the somber and mournful character of the first movement. The music is characterized by its use of complex harmonies and textures, and it builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet and reflective coda. Overall, 'Super flumina Babylonis (Psalm 137), Op. 52' is a powerful and emotionally charged choral work that showcases Alkan's skill as a composer. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism, dissonance, and complex harmonies, as well as its dramatic contrasts between the different movements.

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