Composer

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György Kurtág

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Keyboard

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Keyboard

'Like the flowers of the field' is a composition for soprano and piano by Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It was composed in 2013 and premiered on October 6, 2013, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with soprano Juliet Fraser and pianist Mark Knoop. The composition consists of six movements, each based on a different text from the Bible. The movements are titled: "The Lord is my shepherd", "I am the rose of Sharon", "I am the vine", "Consider the lilies of the field", "The flowers appear on the earth", and "The grass withers, the flower fades". Kurtág's music is known for its brevity and intensity, and 'Like the flowers of the field' is no exception. The six movements range in length from just over a minute to just under three minutes, and each one is a miniature masterpiece of economy and expressiveness. The first movement, "The Lord is my shepherd", is a setting of Psalm 23. The music is spare and haunting, with the soprano singing the text in a simple, chant-like melody while the piano provides a delicate accompaniment. The second movement, "I am the rose of Sharon", is a setting of a love poem from the Song of Solomon. The music is sensuous and passionate, with the soprano singing the text in a soaring, lyrical melody while the piano provides a lush, romantic accompaniment. The third movement, "I am the vine", is a setting of a passage from the Gospel of John. The music is mystical and otherworldly, with the soprano singing the text in a hushed, ethereal voice while the piano provides a shimmering, impressionistic accompaniment. The fourth movement, "Consider the lilies of the field", is a setting of a passage from the Gospel of Matthew. The music is gentle and contemplative, with the soprano singing the text in a tender, introspective melody while the piano provides a delicate, introspective accompaniment. The fifth movement, "The flowers appear on the earth", is a setting of a passage from the Song of Solomon. The music is joyful and exuberant, with the soprano singing the text in a lively, dance-like melody while the piano provides a buoyant, rhythmic accompaniment. The final movement, "The grass withers, the flower fades", is a setting of a passage from the Book of Isaiah. The music is mournful and elegiac, with the soprano singing the text in a plaintive, mournful melody while the piano provides a somber, funereal accompaniment. Overall, 'Like the flowers of the field' is a stunning work of art that showcases Kurtág's mastery of musical expression and economy. The six movements are each a miniature gem, and together they form a powerful meditation on the transience of life and the beauty of the natural world.

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