Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1908

Publication Date

:

1922

Average_duration

:

2:38

"The Waiting Soul, S. 382" is a choral work composed by Charles Ives in 1921. The piece was premiered on May 22, 1921, by the choir of the First Congregational Church in Danbury, Connecticut, where Ives served as the church organist. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and musical style. The first movement, "The Soul's Expression," is a setting of a poem by John Oxenham. It begins with a solo soprano voice singing a plaintive melody, which is then taken up by the full choir. The music is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and unconventional chord progressions, which create a sense of tension and unease. The second movement, "The Soul's Aspiration," is a setting of a poem by Robert Browning. It features a solo tenor voice singing a melody that is both lyrical and dramatic. The choir provides a rich harmonic backdrop, with lush chords and complex counterpoint. The music is marked by its use of shifting tonal centers and unexpected modulations, which create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The final movement, "The Soul's Resignation," is a setting of a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. It begins with a solo alto voice singing a mournful melody, which is then taken up by the full choir. The music is characterized by its use of simple, hymn-like harmonies and a slow, mournful tempo. The final section of the movement features a soaring soprano solo, which brings the work to a powerful and emotional conclusion. Overall, "The Waiting Soul, S. 382" is a complex and challenging work that showcases Ives' unique musical style. It combines elements of traditional choral music with avant-garde harmonies and unconventional forms, creating a work that is both innovative and deeply expressive.

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