Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1949

Average_duration

:

1:45

'What if some little pain' is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1956. The premiere of the cycle was given by Phyllis Curtin, a renowned American soprano, in New York City in 1957. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by a different poet. The first movement, 'What if some little pain', sets a poem by Emily Dickinson. The music is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody that is supported by a simple, yet effective, piano accompaniment. The second movement, 'Rain in Spring', sets a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The music is more complex than the first movement, with a more intricate piano accompaniment and a more varied vocal line. The third movement, 'The Nightingale', sets a poem by William Wordsworth. The music is characterized by a soaring vocal line that is supported by a delicate piano accompaniment. The fourth movement, 'The Wind', sets a poem by Christina Rossetti. The music is more dramatic than the previous movements, with a more forceful vocal line and a more intense piano accompaniment. The final movement, 'I am Rose', sets a poem by Gertrude Stein. The music is characterized by a playful, almost whimsical, vocal line that is supported by a lively piano accompaniment. Overall, the cycle is characterized by Rorem's lyrical and expressive style, which is perfectly suited to the poetry of the various poets he sets. The cycle is a testament to Rorem's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of the poetry he sets in his music.

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