Composer

:

André Previn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1994

Average_duration

:

18:18

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

André Previn's 'Songs (4) after poems by Toni Morrison' is a song cycle composed in 1995. The premiere of the work was given by the soprano Kathleen Battle and the composer himself on the piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 23, 1995. The cycle consists of four movements, each based on a poem by the Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. The first movement, 'Sweet Talk', is a playful and rhythmic setting of Morrison's poem about the seductive power of language. The music is characterized by syncopated rhythms and jazzy harmonies, reflecting Previn's background as a jazz pianist. The second movement, 'The Lacemaker', is a hauntingly beautiful setting of Morrison's poem about a woman who makes lace as a way of coping with the pain of losing her child. The music is slow and mournful, with long, lyrical lines in the vocal part and delicate, intricate piano accompaniment. The third movement, 'Stigmata', is a powerful and intense setting of Morrison's poem about the wounds of slavery that continue to haunt African Americans. The music is marked by dissonant harmonies and jagged rhythms, reflecting the pain and anger expressed in the poem. The final movement, 'The Peaches', is a joyful and exuberant setting of Morrison's poem about the pleasures of summer and the simple joys of life. The music is characterized by lively rhythms and bright, colorful harmonies, reflecting the celebratory mood of the poem. Overall, 'Songs (4) after poems by Toni Morrison' is a deeply moving and expressive work that showcases Previn's skill as a composer and his sensitivity to the emotional power of Morrison's poetry. The cycle is a testament to the enduring legacy of Morrison's writing and the profound impact it has had on artists across disciplines.

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