Composer

:

William Bolcom

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

2:22

"Never More Will the Wind" is a song cycle composed by William Bolcom in 2006. The work was premiered on October 22, 2006, at the University of Michigan by soprano Joan Morris and pianist Martin Katz. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which sets a poem by a different author. The first movement, "The Wind Sings Welcome in Early Spring," sets a poem by Emily Dickinson. The music is light and playful, with a lilting piano accompaniment that evokes the gentle breezes of spring. The vocal line is similarly light and airy, with frequent leaps and trills that suggest the flight of birds. The second movement, "The Wind Is Without There and Howls in the Trees," sets a poem by Wallace Stevens. The music is more dissonant and angular than the first movement, with jagged piano chords and a vocal line that frequently leaps and slides. The overall effect is one of turbulence and unrest, reflecting the poem's theme of existential angst. The third movement, "The Wind Is Rising," sets a poem by Christina Rossetti. The music is more lyrical and flowing than the previous movement, with a gentle piano accompaniment that suggests the rising and falling of the wind. The vocal line is similarly fluid, with long, sustained notes that evoke the beauty and power of nature. The fourth movement, "The Wind Blows Out of the Gates of the Day," sets a poem by John Masefield. The music is more dramatic and intense than the previous movements, with a driving piano accompaniment and a vocal line that frequently soars to high notes. The overall effect is one of grandeur and majesty, reflecting the poem's theme of the power of the natural world. The fifth movement, "The Wind Tells of the Coming of Spring," sets a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. The music is light and playful, with a bouncy piano accompaniment and a vocal line that frequently skips and dances. The overall effect is one of joy and celebration, reflecting the poem's theme of the renewal of life. The final movement, "The Wind Is Without," sets a poem by James Joyce. The music is more introspective and melancholy than the previous movements, with a gentle piano accompaniment and a vocal line that frequently descends to low notes. The overall effect is one of sadness and loss, reflecting the poem's theme of the transience of life. Overall, "Never More Will the Wind" is a varied and evocative song cycle that showcases Bolcom's skill as a composer and his sensitivity to the nuances of poetry. The cycle's six movements explore a range of emotions and moods, from joy and celebration to sadness and loss, and the music is always closely attuned to the meaning and imagery of the poems.

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