Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Jan 1942 - Jul 1947

First Performance

:

1947

Average_duration

:

14:35

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Kurt Weill's "Walt Whitman Songs (4)" is a song cycle composed in 1942, with lyrics taken from the poetry of Walt Whitman. The cycle was premiered on March 3, 1943, in New York City, with soprano Martha Lipton and pianist Emanuel Balaban performing. The cycle consists of four movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement, "Beat! Beat! Drums!", is a rousing call to arms, with a driving rhythm and powerful vocal lines. The second movement, "O Captain! My Captain!", is a mournful tribute to Abraham Lincoln, with a slow, mournful melody and poignant lyrics. The third movement, "Come Up from the Fields, Father", is a haunting ballad about a mother's grief for her son lost in battle. The music is spare and melancholy, with a simple piano accompaniment that underscores the emotional weight of the lyrics. The final movement, "Dirge for Two Veterans", is a somber reflection on the toll of war, with a mournful melody and lyrics that speak to the futility of conflict. The music is spare and elegiac, with a sense of resignation and sadness that lingers long after the final notes have faded away. Overall, "Walt Whitman Songs (4)" is a powerful and moving tribute to the poetry of Walt Whitman, and a testament to Kurt Weill's skill as a composer. The cycle is a masterful example of how music can amplify and enhance the emotional impact of poetry, and remains a beloved work in the classical repertoire to this day.

More....