Composer

:

David Lang

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1991

Average_duration

:

7:24

The Anvil Chorus is a contemporary classical piece composed by David Lang in 1991. It premiered on May 10, 1991, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. The piece is a part of Lang's larger work, The Society for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook, which is a collection of songs that Lang composed in response to the decline of American popular music. The Anvil Chorus is a single movement piece that is approximately 12 minutes long. The piece is scored for six percussionists, who play a variety of instruments, including anvils, brake drums, and cowbells. The piece is characterized by its driving rhythm and repetitive patterns, which create a sense of urgency and intensity. The piece begins with a series of rhythmic patterns played on the anvils, which gradually build in intensity as the other percussion instruments join in. The music is loud and aggressive, with the percussionists playing with great energy and force. The piece is structured around a series of variations on the initial rhythmic pattern, with each variation building on the previous one and adding new layers of complexity. One of the most striking features of The Anvil Chorus is the use of the anvils, which are played with mallets to create a metallic, ringing sound. The anvils are used to create a sense of industrial power and strength, and their sound is often used to punctuate the other percussion instruments. Overall, The Anvil Chorus is a powerful and intense piece of music that showcases Lang's skill as a composer and his ability to create complex and engaging rhythms. The piece has become a staple of the contemporary classical repertoire and is frequently performed by percussion ensembles around the world.

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