Composer

:

Craig Hella Johnson

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

3:34

Gitanjali Chants is a choral work composed by Craig Hella Johnson, an American composer and conductor. The piece is based on the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali poet and philosopher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. The work was premiered by the Austin-based choir Conspirare in 2014. Gitanjali Chants is divided into six movements, each of which sets a different poem from Tagore's collection Gitanjali. The first movement, "Light, my light," is a gentle and contemplative piece that sets the tone for the rest of the work. The second movement, "When I bring to you colored toys," is more playful and rhythmic, with a lively percussion accompaniment. The third movement, "The sleep that flits on baby's eyes," is a lullaby-like piece that features a solo soprano voice. The fourth movement, "The butterfly counts not months but moments," is a fast-paced and energetic piece that features intricate choral harmonies and a driving percussion accompaniment. The fifth movement, "I am only waiting for love to give myself up," is a slow and meditative piece that features a solo tenor voice. The final movement, "Let my love, like sunlight, surround you," is a joyful and celebratory piece that brings the work to a close. Overall, Gitanjali Chants is characterized by its lush harmonies, intricate rhythms, and evocative use of percussion. Johnson's setting of Tagore's poetry captures the spiritual and philosophical themes of the original text, while also showcasing the beauty and power of the choral medium. The work has been praised for its emotional depth and its ability to transport listeners to a place of contemplation and reflection.

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