Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1915

Publication Date

:

1922

First Performance

:

Apr 19, 1934

Average_duration

:

2:47

"Thoreau, S. 373" is a composition by Charles Ives, an American composer known for his experimental and innovative approach to music. The piece was composed in 1945 and premiered in 1946 by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The composition is divided into four movements, each of which is inspired by the writings of the American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau. The first movement, "Concord," is a musical representation of Thoreau's book "Walden," which describes his experiences living in a cabin in the woods near Concord, Massachusetts. The movement features a pastoral and contemplative melody played by the strings, which is interrupted by dissonant and chaotic passages that represent the challenges and struggles of living in isolation. The second movement, "The Lake," is inspired by Thoreau's essay "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers," which describes a journey he took with his brother on the two rivers. The movement features a serene and flowing melody played by the woodwinds and strings, which is accompanied by a gentle and rippling piano accompaniment that evokes the image of a calm lake. The third movement, "Emerson," is a tribute to Thoreau's mentor and friend, the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. The movement features a majestic and grandiose melody played by the brass and percussion, which is contrasted by a delicate and introspective section played by the strings and woodwinds. The final movement, "Hawthorne," is inspired by Thoreau's essay "The Old Manse," which describes a house in Concord where Nathaniel Hawthorne once lived. The movement features a haunting and melancholic melody played by the strings, which is accompanied by dissonant and unsettling harmonies that represent the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the house. Overall, "Thoreau, S. 373" is a complex and multi-layered composition that reflects Ives' fascination with American literature and philosophy. The piece combines traditional and experimental elements of music to create a unique and powerful musical experience that captures the spirit of Thoreau's writings.

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