Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1920

Publication Date

:

1922

First Performance

:

May 1, 1932

Average_duration

:

1:06

Charles Ives was an American composer who is known for his experimental and innovative approach to music. One of his most famous works is "The See'r," S. 344, which was composed in 1913. The piece is a song cycle for voice and piano, and it consists of four movements. The premiere of "The See'r" took place in 1914, and it was performed by the composer's wife, Harmony Ives. The piece was not well-received at the time, as it was considered too avant-garde and difficult to understand. However, it has since become recognized as a masterpiece of American modernist music. The first movement of "The See'r" is titled "The See'r," and it sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The music is dissonant and fragmented, with the piano and voice often playing in different keys and rhythms. The lyrics are also fragmented, with phrases and words repeated and rearranged in a way that creates a sense of confusion and uncertainty. The second movement, "The Cage," is more structured than the first. The piano plays a repetitive, rhythmic pattern while the voice sings a melody that is more tonal and lyrical. The lyrics describe a bird trapped in a cage, and the music reflects the bird's struggle to escape. The third movement, "Like a Sick Eagle," is a haunting and melancholy piece. The piano plays a mournful melody while the voice sings lyrics that describe a sick eagle struggling to fly. The music is dissonant and fragmented, reflecting the eagle's pain and suffering. The final movement, "From the Swimmers," is the most tonal and lyrical of the four. The piano plays a gentle, flowing melody while the voice sings lyrics that describe swimmers diving into the water. The music is peaceful and serene, reflecting the sense of freedom and release that comes from being in the water. Overall, "The See'r" is a complex and challenging piece of music that reflects Charles Ives' innovative approach to composition. The dissonant and fragmented nature of the music, combined with the fragmented lyrics, creates a sense of uncertainty and confusion that is both unsettling and compelling. Despite its initial lack of popularity, "The See'r" has become recognized as a masterpiece of American modernist music.

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