Composer

:

Ernst Bacon

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1940

Average_duration

:

1:03

Ernst Bacon's "Is There Such A Thing As Day?" is a song cycle composed in 1942. The premiere of the work was given by soprano Phyllis Curtin and pianist John Kirkpatrick in New York City in 1943. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by Emily Dickinson. The first movement, "Is There Such A Thing As Day?", is a lively and playful setting of Dickinson's poem about the nature of time. The second movement, "I'll Tell You How The Sun Rose", is a more contemplative piece that explores the beauty of the natural world. The third movement, "The Sun Went Down No Man", is a haunting and melancholy setting of a poem about death and the passage of time. The fourth movement, "The Sky Is Low, The Clouds Are Mean", is a dramatic and intense piece that captures the mood of a stormy day. The final movement, "I'll Tell You What The Robin Said", is a joyful and celebratory setting of a poem about the arrival of spring. Bacon's music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and sensitive treatment of the text. He was known for his ability to capture the essence of a poem in his music, and "Is There Such A Thing As Day?" is no exception. The cycle is a masterful example of Bacon's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

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