Composer

:

Igor Stravinsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1968

First Performance

:

September 6, 1968

Average_duration

:

7:36

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Igor Stravinsky's "Sacred Songs (2) (after Wolf: Spanisches Liederbuch)" is a composition for voice and piano that was composed in 1958. The piece was premiered on May 22, 1958, in Los Angeles, California, by the soprano Bethany Beardslee and the pianist Robert Craft. The composition consists of two movements, both of which are based on texts from the "Spanisches Liederbuch" by Hugo Wolf. The first movement, "Gott ist mein Hirt" (God is my shepherd), is a setting of a German translation of Psalm 23. The second movement, "Gebet" (Prayer), is a setting of a Spanish poem by an unknown author. The characteristics of "Sacred Songs (2)" are typical of Stravinsky's late style, which is characterized by a neoclassical approach to composition. The music is sparse and austere, with a focus on clarity and precision. The vocal line is often angular and disjunct, with wide leaps and unexpected intervals. The piano accompaniment is similarly spare, with a focus on rhythmic precision and clarity of texture. Despite its neoclassical style, "Sacred Songs (2)" is a deeply spiritual work that reflects Stravinsky's lifelong interest in religion and mysticism. The text of the first movement, with its emphasis on the shepherd as a symbol of divine protection and guidance, reflects Stravinsky's interest in the mystical traditions of Christianity. The second movement, with its emphasis on the power of prayer to bring comfort and solace, reflects Stravinsky's interest in the spiritual traditions of other cultures. Overall, "Sacred Songs (2)" is a powerful and moving work that reflects Stravinsky's deep spiritual convictions and his mastery of neoclassical composition.

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