Composer

:

Mátyás Seiber

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Compose Date

:

1956-1957

Average_duration

:

18:29

Mátyás Seiber's 'Fragments (3) from 'A Portrait of the artist as a young man'' is a composition for soprano and chamber ensemble. It was composed in 1958 and premiered in London in the same year. The piece is based on three fragments from James Joyce's novel 'A Portrait of the artist as a young man.' The first movement, 'The Bird of Dawning,' is a setting of Stephen Dedalus' musings on the nature of art and the artist's role in society. The music is characterized by a restless, angular melody that reflects the protagonist's inner turmoil. The soprano's vocal line is accompanied by a sparse, dissonant ensemble that creates a sense of unease and tension. The second movement, 'The Heart of the Hibernian Metropolis,' is a setting of a passage in which Stephen describes his experience of walking through the streets of Dublin. The music is more lyrical and atmospheric than the first movement, with a flowing, melodic vocal line that is supported by a lush, impressionistic ensemble. The overall effect is dreamlike and nostalgic, evoking the sense of longing and nostalgia that permeates the novel. The final movement, 'The Radiant Dawn,' is a setting of a passage in which Stephen experiences a moment of epiphany while watching the sunrise. The music is characterized by a soaring, ecstatic vocal line that is supported by a bright, shimmering ensemble. The overall effect is one of transcendence and spiritual awakening, reflecting the transformative power of art and the human spirit. Overall, Seiber's 'Fragments (3) from 'A Portrait of the artist as a young man'' is a powerful and evocative work that captures the essence of Joyce's novel. The music is characterized by a wide range of emotions and moods, from restlessness and tension to nostalgia and transcendence. The piece is a testament to Seiber's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of a literary work in musical form.

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