Composer

:

Walter Damrosch

Genre

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Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

4:11

"Danny Deever for voice & piano, Op. 2" is a composition by Walter Damrosch, an American conductor and composer. The piece was composed in 1897 and premiered the same year. It is a setting of Rudyard Kipling's poem "Danny Deever," which tells the story of a soldier who is executed for murder. The composition consists of three movements. The first movement is marked "Allegro moderato" and is in the key of G minor. It begins with a piano introduction that sets the somber tone of the piece. The vocal line enters with the first verse of the poem, sung in a declamatory style. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with occasional chords and arpeggios that punctuate the vocal line. The movement builds to a climax with the line "They're hangin' Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play," after which the music subsides into a quiet coda. The second movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is in the key of E-flat major. It begins with a piano introduction that is more lyrical than the first movement. The vocal line enters with the second verse of the poem, sung in a more melodic style than the first. The piano accompaniment is more active in this movement, with flowing arpeggios and a more prominent role in the overall texture. The movement ends quietly, with the line "For they're hangin' Danny Deever, you must mark him to his place." The third movement is marked "Allegro vivace" and is in the key of G minor. It begins with a piano introduction that is more lively than the previous movements. The vocal line enters with the third and final verse of the poem, sung in a more energetic style than the previous two. The piano accompaniment is more rhythmic in this movement, with a driving pulse that propels the music forward. The movement ends with a triumphant flourish, with the line "For they're hangin' Danny Deever, you can bet your boots on that!" Overall, "Danny Deever for voice & piano, Op. 2" is a powerful and dramatic setting of Kipling's poem. Damrosch's music captures the somber mood of the story, as well as the energy and excitement of the soldiers who witness the execution. The three movements are distinct in character, but they work together to create a cohesive whole that is both musically and emotionally satisfying.

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