Composer

:

Jake Heggie

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

3:18

"Barb'ry Allen" is a song cycle composed by Jake Heggie, with lyrics by Gene Scheer. The cycle was composed in 2013 and premiered on February 1, 2014, at the San Francisco Opera. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which tells a different part of the story of Barb'ry Allen. The first movement, "Barb'ry Allen," sets the scene for the cycle. The narrator introduces the listener to Barb'ry Allen, a young woman who is the subject of the cycle. The music is slow and mournful, setting the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "The Unquiet Grave," tells the story of a young man who dies and is buried by his true love. The young woman is so grief-stricken that she cannot sleep and goes to the grave every night to mourn. The music is haunting and ethereal, reflecting the ghostly nature of the story. The third movement, "The False Young Man," tells the story of a young man who pretends to be in love with Barb'ry Allen, but is really just trying to win a bet. When Barb'ry Allen finds out, she is furious and rejects him. The music is fast-paced and lively, reflecting the energy of the story. The fourth movement, "The Last Rose of Summer," tells the story of a young man who is dying and asks Barb'ry Allen to bring him the last rose of summer. She does so, but he dies before she can give it to him. The music is slow and mournful, reflecting the sadness of the story. The fifth movement, "The Salley Gardens," tells the story of a young man who falls in love with Barb'ry Allen, but she rejects him. He goes to the Salley Gardens to mourn, but eventually moves on and finds love elsewhere. The music is wistful and reflective, reflecting the bittersweet nature of the story. The final movement, "Barb'ry Allen (Reprise)," brings the cycle full circle. The narrator reflects on the story of Barb'ry Allen and the various characters she encountered throughout her life. The music is slow and mournful, reflecting the sadness of the story. Overall, "Barb'ry Allen" is a haunting and beautiful song cycle that tells the story of a young woman and the various people she encounters throughout her life. The music is varied and reflects the different moods and emotions of the stories being told.

More....