Composer

:

Matthew Harris

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1988

Shakespeare Songs is a song cycle composed by Matthew Harris in 1995. The premiere of the cycle was held on April 28, 1996, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which sets a different Shakespearean text to music. The first movement, "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day," sets Shakespeare's famous sonnet 18 to music. The music is light and airy, with a lilting melody that captures the beauty and simplicity of the poem. The second movement, "When I Do Count the Clock That Tells the Time," sets Shakespeare's sonnet 12 to music. The music is more contemplative and introspective, with a slower tempo and more complex harmonies. The third movement, "Full Fathom Five," sets Ariel's song from The Tempest to music. The music is ethereal and otherworldly, with a haunting melody that captures the mysterious and magical nature of the play. The fourth movement, "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind," sets a song from As You Like It to music. The music is lively and upbeat, with a jaunty melody that captures the playful and whimsical nature of the play. The fifth movement, "Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun," sets a song from Cymbeline to music. The music is somber and reflective, with a mournful melody that captures the melancholy and introspective nature of the play. The final movement, "Sigh No More, Ladies," sets a song from Much Ado About Nothing to music. The music is lively and upbeat, with a catchy melody that captures the playful and flirtatious nature of the play. Overall, Shakespeare Songs is a beautiful and evocative song cycle that captures the essence of Shakespeare's poetry and plays. The music is varied and expressive, with each movement capturing a different mood and tone. Harris's skillful composition and arrangement make this cycle a true masterpiece of modern classical music.

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