Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

before 1792

Average_duration

:

2:20

"Widow, are ye waking?" is a vocal work composed by Franz Joseph Haydn in 1795. The piece was premiered in London on May 4, 1795, as part of a concert series organized by the impresario Johann Peter Salomon. The work is scored for soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement is a recitative, in which the soprano soloist sings the words "Widow, are ye waking?" The chorus then enters, singing "Yes, we are waking." The second movement is an aria for the soprano soloist, in which she laments the loss of her husband. The third movement is a chorus, in which the widows sing of their grief and longing for their lost loves. The piece is characterized by its simple, yet poignant melodies and its use of chromatic harmonies. The recitative and aria are both in a minor key, which adds to the mournful tone of the piece. The chorus, on the other hand, is in a major key, which provides a sense of hope and comfort. Overall, "Widow, are ye waking?" is a beautiful and moving work that showcases Haydn's skill as a composer of vocal music. Its themes of loss and grief are universal and timeless, making it a piece that continues to resonate with audiences today.

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