Composer

:

Virgil Thomson

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1955

Average_duration

:

2:15

"Remember Adam's Fall" is a choral work composed by Virgil Thomson in 1958. The piece was premiered on May 8, 1958, by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, "Adam's Lament," is a slow and mournful piece that sets the tone for the entire work. The music is characterized by long, sustained notes and a sense of sadness and loss. The lyrics, taken from the Book of Genesis, describe Adam's expulsion from the Garden of Eden and his subsequent realization of his own mortality. The second movement, "The Temptation," is a more lively and energetic piece that reflects the temptation of Adam and Eve by the serpent. The music is characterized by a faster tempo and more complex rhythms, as well as a sense of urgency and excitement. The lyrics describe the serpent's seduction of Eve and the subsequent fall of humanity. The final movement, "The Expulsion," is a powerful and dramatic piece that describes Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The music is characterized by a sense of anger and defiance, as well as a feeling of finality and resolution. The lyrics describe the moment when God banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden and the realization that they can never return. Overall, "Remember Adam's Fall" is a powerful and moving work that explores the themes of sin, temptation, and redemption. Thomson's use of choral music and biblical texts creates a sense of timelessness and universality that speaks to audiences of all backgrounds and beliefs.

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