Composer

:

Rudolf Escher

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

3:25

Rudolf Escher's 'Poems (3) by W.H. Auden for choir: No. 2, A curse' is a choral work that was composed in 1953. The piece was premiered on May 14, 1954, by the Netherlands Chamber Choir under the direction of Felix de Nobel. The work is the second movement of a three-part choral cycle that sets three poems by W.H. Auden. The text of 'A curse' is a poem that explores the theme of love and its destructive power. The poem describes the speaker's desire to curse the object of their affection, wishing them harm and misery. Escher's setting of the text is characterized by its dissonant harmonies and angular melodies. The choral writing is complex and demanding, with frequent changes in meter and tempo. The piece is scored for mixed choir, with divisi in some sections. The opening of the piece features a series of dissonant chords that set the ominous tone of the text. The choir enters with a declamatory statement of the first line, "Love, the liar, the betrayer." The music then shifts to a faster tempo, with the choir singing in a frenzied, almost manic manner. The middle section of the piece features a slower, more contemplative mood, with the choir singing in a hushed, almost whispered tone. The final section returns to the opening material, with the choir repeating the opening chords and the final line of the poem, "May all who love be happy." Overall, Escher's 'Poems (3) by W.H. Auden for choir: No. 2, A curse' is a challenging and complex choral work that explores the darker side of love. The dissonant harmonies and angular melodies create a sense of tension and unease, reflecting the text of the poem. Despite its difficulty, the piece is a powerful and moving work that showcases Escher's skill as a composer.

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