Composer

:

Robert Owens

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1988

Average_duration

:

10:32

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Robert Owens' 'Songs (3) for baritone & piano, Op. 41' is a collection of three art songs composed in 1993. The premiere of the work took place on October 17, 1993, at the University of Maryland, College Park, with baritone William Sharp and pianist Rita Sloan performing. The first movement, 'The Serpent', is a setting of a poem by Theodore Roethke. The piece begins with a haunting piano introduction that sets the mood for the dark and mysterious text. The baritone enters with a low, ominous melody that builds in intensity as the song progresses. The piano accompaniment is equally dramatic, with dissonant chords and angular lines that add to the unsettling atmosphere of the piece. The second movement, 'The Wind', is a setting of a poem by James Stephens. This song is more lyrical and flowing than the first, with a gentle piano accompaniment that evokes the image of a soft breeze. The baritone's melody is simple and beautiful, with a soaring quality that captures the feeling of the wind lifting and carrying the singer's voice. The final movement, 'The Sea', is a setting of a poem by James Reeves. This song is the most dramatic of the three, with a powerful piano introduction that sets the stage for the baritone's entrance. The melody is sweeping and grand, with a sense of awe and wonder that captures the vastness and power of the sea. The piano accompaniment is equally impressive, with crashing chords and rolling arpeggios that evoke the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Overall, Robert Owens' 'Songs (3) for baritone & piano, Op. 41' is a powerful and evocative work that showcases the composer's skill at setting poetry to music. The three movements are distinct in character and mood, but all share a sense of drama and intensity that makes them compelling to listen to.

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