Composer

:

Morton Gould

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1941

Average_duration

:

18:00

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Morton Gould's "Spirituals for Orchestra" is a composition that premiered on January 27, 1941, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different spiritual. The first movement, "Balm in Gilead," is a slow and mournful piece that features a solo trumpet and a solo clarinet. The melody is based on the spiritual of the same name, which is a song of hope and healing. Gould's arrangement of the spiritual is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which give the piece a haunting quality. The second movement, "Deep River," is a more upbeat and lively piece that features the full orchestra. The melody is based on the spiritual of the same name, which is a song about crossing the Jordan River into the promised land. Gould's arrangement of the spiritual is characterized by its use of syncopation and jazz-inspired rhythms, which give the piece a lively and energetic feel. The third movement, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," is a slow and introspective piece that features a solo cello and a solo English horn. The melody is based on the spiritual of the same name, which is a song of lamentation and sorrow. Gould's arrangement of the spiritual is characterized by its use of lush harmonies and expressive melodies, which give the piece a deeply emotional quality. Overall, "Spirituals for Orchestra" is a powerful and moving composition that showcases Gould's skill as an arranger and composer. The piece is notable for its use of traditional spirituals as source material, as well as its incorporation of jazz-inspired rhythms and harmonies.

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