Composer

:

William Walton

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Monodrama

Compose Date

:

1922 - 1927

Average_duration

:

38:44

Movement_count

:

22

Movement ....

Façade is a musical composition by William Walton, which was composed in 1922. It premiered on June 12, 1923, at Aeolian Hall in London. The composition is a series of short pieces that are performed with a recitation of poems by Edith Sitwell. The poems are recited through a megaphone, and the music is played by a small ensemble of instruments. The composition consists of 21 movements, each of which is based on a different poem by Sitwell. The movements are short, ranging from 30 seconds to two minutes in length. The music is written in a variety of styles, including jazz, tango, and waltz. The instrumentation is also varied, with instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, and percussion being used. One of the characteristics of Façade is its use of humor and satire. The poems by Sitwell are often nonsensical and absurd, and the music reflects this with its playful and whimsical nature. The use of the megaphone to recite the poems also adds to the overall sense of absurdity. Another characteristic of Façade is its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. Walton was influenced by the modernist movement in art and music, and this is reflected in his composition. The music is often jarring and unpredictable, with unexpected shifts in tempo and dynamics. Overall, Façade is a unique and innovative composition that combines poetry and music in a playful and experimental way. Its use of humor, satire, and modernist techniques make it a landmark work in 20th-century music.

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