Composer

:

Georgy Sviridov

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

13:02

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Georgy Sviridov's 'Songs of Troubled Times' is a choral cycle composed in 1985. The premiere of the work took place on December 15, 1985, at the Moscow Conservatory Great Hall, performed by the USSR State Chamber Choir under the direction of Valery Polyansky. The cycle consists of six movements, each based on a poem by a Russian poet from the 19th or 20th century. The first movement, 'The Night is Darkening Round Me,' is based on a poem by Emily Bronte and is sung in English. The second movement, 'The Wind is Howling,' is based on a poem by Sergei Yesenin and is sung in Russian. The third movement, 'The Sun Has Set,' is based on a poem by Mikhail Lermontov and is also sung in Russian. The fourth movement, 'The Bells are Ringing,' is based on a poem by Alexander Blok and is sung in Russian. The fifth movement, 'The Snow is Falling,' is based on a poem by Boris Pasternak and is sung in Russian. The final movement, 'The Night is Darkening Round Me,' is a reprise of the first movement, sung in Russian. The characteristics of 'Songs of Troubled Times' are deeply emotional and reflective of the difficult times in which Sviridov composed the work. The music is hauntingly beautiful, with lush harmonies and soaring melodies that convey a sense of longing and sadness. The choral writing is complex and demanding, requiring a high level of skill and precision from the performers. The use of multiple languages adds to the richness and diversity of the work, highlighting the universality of human experience in times of trouble. Overall, 'Songs of Troubled Times' is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Sviridov's masterful composition and the skillful performance of the USSR State Chamber Choir make this a timeless masterpiece of choral music.

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