Composer

:

Rene Clausen

Genre

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Miscellaneous

Style

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Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

12:07

"Tonight, Eternity Alone" is a choral composition by Rene Clausen, an American composer and conductor. The piece was composed in 1993 and premiered by the Concordia Choir, a renowned choral ensemble based in Minnesota, in the same year. The composition consists of three movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement, "Tonight," is a hauntingly beautiful setting of a poem by the American poet Edgar Allan Poe. The music is slow and mournful, with long, sustained phrases and rich harmonies that evoke a sense of longing and despair. The choir sings of a lost love, and the music captures the sense of emptiness and loneliness that comes with such a loss. The second movement, "Eternity," is a stark contrast to the first. The music is fast and rhythmic, with a driving pulse that propels the choir forward. The text is taken from a poem by the English poet William Blake, and speaks of the infinite nature of time and space. The music captures the sense of boundless energy and movement, with intricate rhythms and complex harmonies that build to a powerful climax. The final movement, "Alone," returns to the mournful mood of the first. The music is slow and contemplative, with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The text is a setting of a poem by the American poet Sara Teasdale, and speaks of the inevitability of death and the loneliness that comes with it. The music is spare and simple, with a sense of quiet introspection that brings the piece to a gentle close. Overall, "Tonight, Eternity Alone" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Clausen's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotional depth of poetry through music. The piece is a favorite of choral ensembles around the world, and has become a staple of the modern choral repertoire.

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