Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1957

Average_duration

:

0:30

'O you whom I often and silently come' is a song composed by Ned Rorem, an American composer, in 1969. The song is a part of his song cycle titled 'Evidence of Things Not Seen', which is based on the writings of American poet, Walt Whitman. The song cycle was premiered in 1977 by the New York Festival of Song. The song has a slow and contemplative tempo, with a time signature of 4/4. It is written in the key of F major and has a vocal range of G3 to F5. The song has a simple and repetitive melody, which is accompanied by a gentle and flowing piano accompaniment. The song has a free and expressive form, with no clear divisions between the sections. The lyrics of the song are taken from Whitman's poem 'O You Whom I Often and Silently Come', which is a part of his collection 'Leaves of Grass'. The poem is a love poem, in which the speaker expresses his love and admiration for his beloved. The poem is characterized by its sensual and romantic imagery, which is reflected in Rorem's music. The song is characterized by its lyrical and expressive vocal line, which is supported by a delicate and flowing piano accompaniment. The song has a dreamy and ethereal quality, which is enhanced by Rorem's use of chromatic harmonies and subtle shifts in tonality. The song is also characterized by its use of rubato, which allows the singer to express the emotional content of the lyrics. Overall, 'O you whom I often and silently come' is a beautiful and expressive song, which captures the romantic and sensual qualities of Whitman's poetry. Rorem's music is sensitive and nuanced, and perfectly complements the emotional content of the lyrics. The song is a testament to Rorem's skill as a composer, and his ability to capture the essence of a text in his music.

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