Composer

:

Valery Gavrilin

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1971

Average_duration

:

3:22

Valery Gavrilin's "Songs of Ophelia (2), No. 1, To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day" is a vocal composition that was composed in 1977. The piece was premiered in Moscow, Russia, in the same year. The composition is part of a larger work, "Songs of Ophelia," which is a cycle of songs based on the character Ophelia from William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." The piece is written for a solo soprano voice and piano accompaniment. It is a short song, lasting only about two minutes, and is in a slow tempo. The piece is in the key of F major and is in 3/4 time. The song is characterized by its melancholic and haunting melody, which is reminiscent of Russian folk music. The piano accompaniment is sparse and simple, providing a delicate and ethereal backdrop for the soprano's voice. The vocal line is also simple, with a narrow range and a focus on the expressive qualities of the text. The lyrics of the song are taken from a scene in "Hamlet" where Ophelia sings a song about love and loss. The text is in English and is a direct quotation from the play. The song's title refers to the fact that the scene takes place on Valentine's Day. Overall, "Songs of Ophelia (2), No. 1, To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day" is a beautiful and haunting composition that captures the melancholic spirit of Shakespeare's Ophelia. Its simple yet expressive melody and sparse accompaniment make it a powerful and moving piece of music.

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