Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1899

Publication Date

:

1993

Average_duration

:

2:07

'Because Thou Art, S. 219' is a choral work composed by Charles Ives in 1902. The piece was premiered in 1903 by the choir of the First Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield, New Jersey. It is a four-movement work that features a mixed choir and organ accompaniment. The first movement, "Because Thou Art," is a setting of a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The music is characterized by its lush harmonies and soaring melodies. The second movement, "O Lord, Our Lord," is a setting of Psalm 8. The music is more subdued than the first movement, with a focus on the text and the organ accompaniment. The third movement, "The World's Wanderers," is a setting of a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The music is characterized by its shifting harmonies and complex rhythms. The final movement, "The Greatest Man," is a setting of a poem by Walt Whitman. The music is triumphant and celebratory, with a soaring melody and powerful organ accompaniment. Overall, 'Because Thou Art, S. 219' is a complex and challenging work that showcases Ives' innovative approach to choral music. The piece features a wide range of musical styles and techniques, from lush harmonies to complex rhythms and shifting harmonies. It is a testament to Ives' unique voice as a composer and his ability to push the boundaries of traditional choral music.

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