Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1975

First Performance

:

Feb 29, 1976

Average_duration

:

18:34

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Ned Rorem's 'Book of Hours (8)' is a song cycle composed in 1975 for soprano and piano. The premiere of the work took place on October 26, 1975, at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, with Phyllis Bryn-Julson as the soprano and the composer himself at the piano. The cycle consists of eight movements, each based on a different text from the Book of Hours, a collection of prayers and devotions used by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. The texts are in Latin, French, and English, and cover a range of themes, from love and devotion to mortality and the afterlife. The first movement, "Matins," sets a text by the 14th-century French poet Christine de Pizan, and features a flowing, lyrical melody in the piano accompanied by a soaring vocal line. The second movement, "Lauds," is a setting of a Latin hymn, and is characterized by its bright, joyful tone and lively rhythms. The third movement, "Prime," is a setting of a text by the English poet John Donne, and is marked by its introspective, contemplative mood. The fourth movement, "Terce," is a setting of a French poem by Charles d'Orléans, and features a haunting, ethereal melody in the piano accompanied by a delicate vocal line. The fifth movement, "Sext," is a setting of a Latin hymn, and is characterized by its rhythmic energy and driving piano accompaniment. The sixth movement, "None," is a setting of a text by the English poet Thomas Campion, and is marked by its gentle, flowing melody and tender, intimate mood. The seventh movement, "Vespers," is a setting of a Latin hymn, and is characterized by its rich, sonorous harmonies and majestic, sweeping melody. The final movement, "Compline," is a setting of a text by the 16th-century English poet Thomas Wyatt, and is marked by its quiet, contemplative mood and delicate, understated piano accompaniment. Overall, 'Book of Hours (8)' is a deeply spiritual and introspective work, characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and sensitive, expressive vocal writing. It is a testament to Rorem's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of the texts he sets in his music.

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