Composer

:

Charles Tomlinson Griffes

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1912

Publication Date

:

1993

Average_duration

:

9:23

The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla Khan, for piano, A. 72, is a composition by American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes. It was composed in 1912 and premiered in New York City in 1913. The piece is inspired by the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The composition is divided into three movements. The first movement, titled "Prelude," is marked "Lento misterioso" and sets the mood for the piece with its mysterious and dreamlike quality. The second movement, titled "Dance," is marked "Allegro con grazia" and features a lively and rhythmic dance melody. The final movement, titled "Dirge," is marked "Lento funebre" and is a somber and mournful piece. The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla Khan is characterized by its use of impressionistic harmonies and exotic melodies. Griffes was heavily influenced by the music of Debussy and Ravel, and this influence is evident in the piece. The use of pentatonic scales and whole-tone scales gives the piece an exotic and otherworldly quality. Overall, The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla Khan is a haunting and evocative piece that showcases Griffes' unique style and his ability to create vivid musical landscapes.

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