Composer

:

Stephen Chatman

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1999

Average_duration

:

6:50

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Rossetti Songs (2) is a song cycle composed by Stephen Chatman, a Canadian composer, in 1995. The cycle consists of two movements, each based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. The premiere of the cycle was held on March 17, 1996, at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in Vancouver, Canada. The first movement, titled "Echo," is a setting of Rossetti's poem of the same name. The poem describes the speaker's longing for her lover's return and her frustration at the silence of the echo that she calls out to. Chatman's setting of the poem is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which reflect the speaker's emotional turmoil. The piano accompaniment is also notable for its use of repeated notes and arpeggios, which create a sense of urgency and restlessness. The second movement, titled "Song," is a setting of Rossetti's poem "When I am dead, my dearest." The poem is a reflection on the speaker's mortality and the impermanence of love. Chatman's setting of the poem is characterized by its simplicity and understated beauty. The melody is lyrical and flowing, with a gentle accompaniment that supports the vocal line without overpowering it. The harmonies are mostly diatonic, with occasional chromatic inflections that add a touch of melancholy. Overall, Rossetti Songs (2) is a poignant and expressive song cycle that showcases Chatman's skill as a composer. The cycle's use of Rossetti's poetry as its source material adds an extra layer of depth and meaning to the music, making it a powerful and moving work.

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