Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1963

Average_duration

:

1:52

"That Shadow, My Likeness" is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1989. The work is based on the poetry of Walt Whitman, and it was premiered on April 23, 1990, at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which sets a different Whitman poem. The first movement, "That Shadow, My Likeness," sets the poem of the same name. The music is slow and introspective, with a haunting melody that reflects the poem's themes of mortality and the passage of time. The second movement, "As I Ebb'd with the Ocean of Life," is more upbeat and energetic, with a driving rhythm that evokes the movement of the waves. The third movement, "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," is perhaps the most famous of the cycle. It sets one of Whitman's most beloved poems, and the music is appropriately lyrical and expressive. The fourth movement, "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer," is more subdued, with a gentle melody that reflects the poem's contemplative mood. The fifth movement, "A Clear Midnight," is a beautiful setting of one of Whitman's most spiritual poems. The music is serene and peaceful, with a sense of transcendence that reflects the poem's themes of unity and oneness. The final movement, "The Mystic Trumpeter," is a powerful and dramatic setting of one of Whitman's most visionary poems. The music is grand and majestic, with a sense of awe and wonder that reflects the poem's themes of transcendence and spiritual awakening. Overall, "That Shadow, My Likeness" is a beautiful and moving work that showcases Rorem's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of Whitman's poetry. The music is lyrical, expressive, and deeply emotional, and it captures the essence of Whitman's vision of the human experience.

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