Composer

:

Joseph Schwantner

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1980

Average_duration

:

11:41

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Joseph Schwantner's 'Poems (2) of Agueda Pizarro' is a two-movement work for soprano and chamber ensemble. The piece was composed in 1981 and premiered on March 28, 1982, by the New York New Music Ensemble at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The first movement, 'The Red Dress', is a setting of a poem by Agueda Pizarro, a Puerto Rican poet. The music is characterized by its haunting, ethereal quality, with the soprano's voice floating above a sparse, atmospheric accompaniment. Schwantner employs a variety of extended techniques, such as flutter-tonguing and pitch bends, to create a sense of otherworldliness. The overall effect is one of mystery and introspection. The second movement, 'Blue Dreams', is also based on a poem by Pizarro. This movement is more rhythmic and energetic than the first, with a driving pulse and syncopated rhythms. The soprano's vocal line is more declamatory, with a sense of urgency and passion. The instrumental accompaniment is more active, with angular melodies and dissonant harmonies. The movement builds to a frenzied climax before subsiding into a quiet, introspective coda. Overall, 'Poems (2) of Agueda Pizarro' is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Schwantner's skill as a composer. The piece is notable for its use of extended techniques and unconventional textures, as well as its emotional depth and expressive power.

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