Composer

:

Arnold Bax

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1942

Arnold Bax's 'Fantasies (5) on Polish Christmas Carols' is a collection of five pieces for piano, composed in 1922. The work was premiered by the pianist Harriet Cohen in London in 1923. The five movements are based on traditional Polish Christmas carols, which Bax discovered during his travels in Poland. The first movement, 'Lullaby', is a gentle and peaceful piece, evoking the image of a mother singing her child to sleep. The second movement, 'Dance', is a lively and rhythmic piece, with a strong folk influence. The third movement, 'Carol', is a slow and contemplative piece, with a haunting melody that is both beautiful and melancholic. The fourth movement, 'Mazurka', is a fast and energetic piece, with a strong dance rhythm and virtuosic piano writing. The final movement, 'Kujawiak', is a slow and mournful piece, with a simple and beautiful melody that is repeated and developed throughout the movement. Overall, Bax's 'Fantasies (5) on Polish Christmas Carols' is a beautiful and evocative work, which showcases his skill as a composer and his love of folk music. The pieces are full of rich harmonies, intricate rhythms, and beautiful melodies, which capture the spirit of the Polish Christmas carols and bring them to life in a new and exciting way.

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