Composer

:

George Crumb

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

2009

Average_duration

:

15:28

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

"Sun and Shadow (Spanish Songbook II)" is a composition by American composer George Crumb. It was composed in 2002 and premiered on October 17, 2004, at the University of Pennsylvania's Irvine Auditorium. The piece is a song cycle for mezzo-soprano, guitar, and percussion, and is the second in a series of Spanish Songbooks by Crumb. The cycle consists of eight movements, each based on a poem by a Spanish poet. The first movement, "La Guitarra," is a setting of a poem by Federico García Lorca and features the guitar as the primary instrument. The second movement, "La Tarde," is a setting of a poem by Juan Ramón Jiménez and features the mezzo-soprano singing in a haunting, ethereal style. The third movement, "La Fuente," is a setting of a poem by Antonio Machado and features the percussionist playing a variety of instruments, including maracas and a water gong. The fourth movement, "La Luna," is a setting of a poem by Lorca and features the mezzo-soprano singing in a more traditional style, accompanied by the guitar. The fifth movement, "La Oración del Torero," is a setting of a poem by José Bergamín and features the percussionist playing a bullfighting drum. The sixth movement, "La Noche," is a setting of a poem by Jiménez and features the mezzo-soprano singing in a more dramatic style. The seventh movement, "La Muerte," is a setting of a poem by Lorca and features the mezzo-soprano singing in a mournful, lamenting style. The final movement, "La Guitarra," is a reprise of the first movement, but with the mezzo-soprano joining in on the guitar's melody. Overall, "Sun and Shadow (Spanish Songbook II)" is a haunting and evocative work that showcases Crumb's unique style of composition. The use of percussion and guitar, along with the mezzo-soprano's haunting vocals, creates a sense of otherworldliness and mystery that is characteristic of Crumb's work. The piece is a testament to the enduring power of Spanish poetry and the ability of music to capture its essence.

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