Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Average_duration

:

1:53

"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a musical composition by American composer Ned Rorem. It was composed in 1983 and premiered on November 17, 1984, by the New York Festival of Song. The piece is a song cycle consisting of four movements, each based on a stanza from Robert Frost's poem of the same name. The first movement, "Whose woods these are I think I know," is a slow and contemplative setting of the first stanza. Rorem uses a simple, repetitive melody to evoke the sense of stillness and quietness in the snowy woods. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, adding to the overall sense of peacefulness. The second movement, "My little horse must think it queer," is a faster and more playful setting of the second stanza. Rorem uses a bouncy, syncopated rhythm to convey the sense of the horse's unease and impatience. The piano accompaniment is more active and rhythmic, adding to the sense of movement and urgency. The third movement, "He gives his harness bells a shake," is a dramatic and intense setting of the third stanza. Rorem uses a driving, repetitive rhythm to convey the sense of urgency and danger as the speaker is pulled away from the woods. The piano accompaniment is forceful and dissonant, adding to the sense of tension and unease. The final movement, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep," is a slow and contemplative setting of the final stanza. Rorem returns to the simple, repetitive melody of the first movement, but with a more complex and harmonically rich accompaniment. The overall effect is one of peacefulness and resignation, as the speaker reflects on the beauty of the woods but ultimately chooses to continue on his journey. Overall, Rorem's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a masterful musical interpretation of Frost's poem. Through his use of melody, rhythm, and harmony, Rorem captures the mood and imagery of the poem, creating a powerful and evocative musical experience.

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