Composer

:

Jan Dismas Zelenka

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1730

Publication Date

:

1980

Average_duration

:

6:07

Il Serpente del bronzo, ZWV 61 is a sacred oratorio composed by Jan Dismas Zelenka, a Czech composer of the Baroque era. The oratorio was composed in 1730 and premiered in Dresden, Germany, on Good Friday of the same year. The oratorio consists of six movements, each of which is based on a biblical text. The first movement, "Sinfonia," is an instrumental introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the work. The second movement, "Serpente di bronzo," is based on the story of Moses and the bronze serpent from the Book of Numbers. The music is dramatic and intense, with a sense of urgency that reflects the urgency of the story. The third movement, "O voi che siete in via," is a solo aria that is sung by a soprano. The text is taken from the Gospel of Matthew and is a warning to those who are on the wrong path. The music is haunting and melancholy, with a sense of foreboding that reflects the seriousness of the message. The fourth movement, "O morte, quanto amara sei," is a duet for soprano and alto. The text is taken from the Book of Wisdom and is a meditation on the nature of death. The music is mournful and introspective, with a sense of resignation that reflects the inevitability of death. The fifth movement, "O mors, ero mors tua," is a solo aria that is sung by a bass. The text is taken from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians and is a triumphant declaration of victory over death. The music is joyful and celebratory, with a sense of exultation that reflects the triumph of life over death. The final movement, "Alleluia," is a choral piece that brings the oratorio to a close. The text is a simple declaration of praise and thanksgiving, and the music is joyful and exuberant, with a sense of celebration that reflects the joy of the resurrection. Overall, Il Serpente del bronzo, ZWV 61 is a powerful and moving work that reflects Zelenka's mastery of the Baroque style. The music is dramatic, intense, and emotional, with a sense of urgency and seriousness that reflects the weighty themes of the biblical texts on which it is based.

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