Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:42

Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1983. The cycle is based on the poetry of Stephen Foster, an American songwriter who lived in the 19th century. The premiere of the cycle was given by soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson and pianist Martin Katz in 1983. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which is a setting of a different Foster poem. The first movement, "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair," is a gentle and lyrical song that features a simple melody and a flowing accompaniment. The second movement, "Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway," is a more dramatic and passionate song that features a more complex melody and a more varied accompaniment. The third movement, "Gentle Annie," is a tender and nostalgic song that features a simple and understated melody. The fourth movement, "If You've Only Got a Moustache," is a humorous and playful song that features a lively and syncopated accompaniment. The fifth movement, "Beautiful Dreamer," is perhaps the most famous of the cycle. It is a haunting and melancholy song that features a simple and plaintive melody. The final movement, "Old Folks at Home," is a lively and upbeat song that features a jaunty and energetic accompaniment. Overall, the cycle is characterized by Rorem's sensitive and expressive settings of Foster's poetry. Rorem's music is lyrical and melodic, with a clear and direct emotional impact. The cycle is a tribute to Foster's enduring legacy as one of America's greatest songwriters, and it is a testament to Rorem's own skill as a composer of vocal music.

More....