Composer

:

Ricky Ian Gordon

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:17

"Daybreak in Alabama" is a song cycle composed by Ricky Ian Gordon, with lyrics by Langston Hughes. The cycle was composed in 2002 and premiered on March 2, 2003, at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Hughes. The first movement, "Daybreak in Alabama," sets the tone for the cycle with its gentle, lilting melody and evocative lyrics. The poem describes the beauty of a morning in Alabama, with the sun rising over the hills and the birds singing in the trees. The second movement, "Dream Variations," is a more introspective piece that explores the idea of dreaming as a way to escape the harsh realities of life. The music is more complex and dissonant than the first movement, reflecting the complexity of the emotions expressed in the poem. The third movement, "The Weary Blues," is a bluesy, jazzy piece that captures the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. The poem describes a musician playing the blues in a smoky club, and the music reflects the mood of the poem with its slow, mournful melody and soulful harmonies. The fourth movement, "Song for a Dark Girl," is a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of love and loss. The poem describes a young black woman who has lost her lover to lynching, and the music captures the sadness and despair of the situation with its mournful melody and sparse, haunting harmonies. The fifth movement, "Luck," is a more upbeat piece that celebrates the joys of life. The poem describes the simple pleasures of a day spent fishing, and the music reflects the joy and excitement of the experience with its lively, energetic melody and playful harmonies. The final movement, "Let America Be America Again," is a powerful statement on the American Dream and the struggle for equality. The poem describes the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised and marginalized, and the music reflects the urgency and passion of the message with its driving rhythm and soaring melody. Overall, "Daybreak in Alabama" is a beautiful and moving cycle that captures the spirit of Langston Hughes' poetry and the music of the Harlem Renaissance. The music is both accessible and complex, with a wide range of emotions and moods that reflect the diversity of the poems. It is a testament to the enduring power of Hughes' words and the timeless beauty of Gordon's music.

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