Composer

:

James Whitbourn

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2009

Average_duration

:

01:09:44

Movement_count

:

14

Movement ....

'Annelies' is a choral work composed by James Whitbourn in 2005. It is based on the diary of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who lived in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The work was premiered in 2005 at the Cheltenham Music Festival in the UK. The piece is divided into fourteen movements, each of which is based on a different entry from Anne Frank's diary. The movements are arranged in chronological order, beginning with Anne's first entry on June 14, 1942, and ending with her final entry on August 1, 1944. The movements are sung in English, with occasional phrases in Dutch and German. The music of 'Annelies' is characterized by its simplicity and directness. Whitbourn's use of choral textures and harmonies is reminiscent of the music of the Renaissance, but with a modern sensibility. The work is scored for choir, soprano soloist, and chamber ensemble, which includes violin, cello, clarinet, and piano. The ensemble provides a delicate and supportive accompaniment to the choir and soloist, creating a sense of intimacy and introspection. The text of 'Annelies' is drawn directly from Anne Frank's diary, and Whitbourn has set it with great sensitivity and respect. The music captures the emotional depth and complexity of Anne's words, from her moments of joy and hope to her despair and fear. The work is a powerful tribute to Anne Frank and a reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. Overall, 'Annelies' is a moving and poignant work that captures the spirit of Anne Frank's diary. Its simplicity and directness make it accessible to a wide audience, while its emotional depth and complexity make it a work of great artistic merit.

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