Composer

:

Jacques Ibert

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1921

Average_duration

:

24:49

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

"La ballade de la geôle de Reading" is a composition by French composer Jacques Ibert. It was composed in 1937 and premiered the same year in Paris. The piece is divided into three movements and is based on the poem "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" by Oscar Wilde. The first movement, "The Prisoner's Elegy," begins with a somber and mournful melody played by the solo cello. The music gradually builds in intensity as the other instruments join in, creating a sense of tension and despair. The movement ends with a return to the solo cello, playing a haunting melody that fades away into silence. The second movement, "The Prisoner's Dance," is a lively and rhythmic dance that contrasts sharply with the first movement. The music is playful and energetic, with a sense of freedom and joy. The movement features a solo clarinet that plays a virtuosic melody, accompanied by the rest of the orchestra. The final movement, "The Prisoner's Epitaph," returns to the somber mood of the first movement. The music is slow and mournful, with a sense of finality and resignation. The movement features a solo violin that plays a haunting melody, accompanied by the rest of the orchestra. The piece ends with a quiet and peaceful resolution. Overall, "La ballade de la geôle de Reading" is a powerful and emotional work that captures the themes of Oscar Wilde's poem. The music is characterized by its use of contrasting moods and textures, as well as its virtuosic solo passages. It is a testament to Ibert's skill as a composer and his ability to convey complex emotions through music.

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