Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1935

Average_duration

:

2:07

"Of That So Sweet Imprisonment" is a song cycle composed by Samuel Barber in 1949. The work is based on five poems by James Joyce and was premiered on January 10, 1950, in New York City. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is a setting of a different Joyce poem. The first movement, "Sleep Now," is a lullaby that features a gentle, rocking rhythm and a simple, lyrical melody. The second movement, "I Hear an Army," is a more dramatic and intense piece that features a driving, martial rhythm and a soaring vocal line. The third movement, "A Last Song," is a poignant and melancholy piece that features a haunting melody and a sense of resignation and acceptance. The fourth movement, "The Secrets of the Old," is a mysterious and atmospheric piece that features a haunting, otherworldly melody and a sense of foreboding and unease. The final movement, "Love at the Door," is a joyful and exuberant piece that features a lively, dance-like rhythm and a sense of celebration and triumph. Throughout the cycle, Barber's music is characterized by its lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and expressive power. His settings of Joyce's poems are sensitive and nuanced, capturing the subtle nuances of the text and bringing them to life through music. The cycle is a testament to Barber's skill as a composer and his ability to create music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

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