Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorus

Compose Date

:

1968

Average_duration

:

3:05

"To Be Sung on the Water, Op. 42/2" is a choral work composed by Samuel Barber in 1968. The piece is set to a poem by the English poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and is scored for a four-part mixed choir. The work was premiered on May 4, 1969, by the New York Choral Society, conducted by Robert De Cormier. The piece is divided into two movements, with the first movement being a setting of the first two stanzas of Shelley's poem, and the second movement being a setting of the final two stanzas. The first movement is marked "Andante espressivo" and is characterized by its flowing, lyrical melody and lush harmonies. The second movement is marked "Allegro con fuoco" and is more dramatic and intense, with the choir singing in a more declamatory style. The text of the poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The first stanza speaks of the fleeting nature of life, with the image of a boat on the water serving as a metaphor for the passing of time. The second stanza speaks of the beauty of life, with the image of the stars reflected in the water serving as a metaphor for the beauty of the world. The final two stanzas speak of the inevitability of death, with the image of the boat sinking into the water serving as a metaphor for the end of life. Barber's setting of the poem is characterized by its lush harmonies and expressive melodies. The piece is a showcase for the beauty of the human voice, with the choir singing in a rich, full-bodied style. The work is a testament to Barber's skill as a composer of choral music, and it remains a beloved piece in the choral repertoire.

More....