Composer

:

John Alden Carpenter

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:10

John Alden Carpenter's "Langston Hughes Poems (4) No. 3, The Cryin' Blues" is a composition for voice and piano that premiered in 1925. The piece is part of a larger collection of songs that Carpenter composed based on the poetry of Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. "The Cryin' Blues" is a slow and mournful piece that captures the pain and sorrow of the African American experience. The song is divided into three distinct sections, each with its own unique character and mood. The first section of the song is marked by a slow and steady tempo, with the piano providing a simple and repetitive accompaniment. The vocal line is equally simple, with the singer delivering the lyrics in a low and mournful tone. The lyrics themselves are filled with images of sadness and despair, with lines like "I'm cryin' blues, Lord, I'm cryin' blues / My heart is heavy, and my soul is bruised." The second section of the song is marked by a sudden shift in tempo and mood. The piano becomes more active and energetic, and the vocal line becomes more urgent and passionate. The lyrics in this section are more hopeful, with the singer proclaiming that "I'm gonna rise up, Lord, I'm gonna rise up / And leave these cryin' blues behind." The final section of the song returns to the slow and mournful mood of the opening section. The piano and vocal line become more subdued, and the lyrics return to themes of sadness and despair. The song ends on a somber note, with the singer repeating the opening lines of the song: "I'm cryin' blues, Lord, I'm cryin' blues / My heart is heavy, and my soul is bruised." Overall, "Langston Hughes Poems (4) No. 3, The Cryin' Blues" is a powerful and emotional piece that captures the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance and the struggles of the African American community during that time.

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