Composer

:

Charles Tomlinson Griffes

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1903 - 1910

Publication Date

:

1910

Average_duration

:

2:18

"Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal, A. 20" is a composition by American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes. It was composed in 1917 and premiered on March 10, 1918, in New York City. The piece is a song cycle consisting of three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement, "Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal," is a setting of a German poem by Friedrich Rückert. The music is characterized by a slow, mournful melody in the piano, which is accompanied by a simple, repetitive vocal line. The overall mood of the movement is one of sadness and longing. The second movement, "Der Tod und das Mädchen," is a setting of a poem by Matthias Claudius. The music is much more lively and energetic than the first movement, with a fast-paced piano accompaniment and a more complex vocal line. The overall mood of the movement is one of defiance and triumph over death. The third and final movement, "Die Sennen am Tonsee," is a setting of a poem by Ludwig Uhland. The music is characterized by a lively, dance-like rhythm in the piano, which is accompanied by a playful, almost childlike vocal line. The overall mood of the movement is one of joy and celebration. Overall, "Zwei Könige sassen auf Orkadal, A. 20" is a beautiful and complex song cycle that showcases Griffes' skill as a composer. The three movements each have their own distinct characteristics, but they are all united by a common theme of human emotion and experience.

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