Composer

:

Virgil Thomson

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1936

Average_duration

:

14:11

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

"The Plow That Broke the Plains" is a musical composition by American composer Virgil Thomson. It was composed in 1936 as a score for a documentary film of the same name, directed by Pare Lorentz. The film and the music were commissioned by the United States government as part of the New Deal program to promote awareness of the problems of soil erosion and drought in the Great Plains region of the United States. The premiere of the film and the music took place on May 10, 1936, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The film was shown with live music performed by a small ensemble of musicians, including Thomson himself on piano. The music is divided into six movements, each corresponding to a different section of the film. The first movement, "The Land," introduces the vastness and beauty of the Great Plains. The second movement, "Pastoral," depicts the idyllic life of the farmers and their families. The third movement, "Cattle," portrays the importance of the cattle industry to the region. The fourth movement, "Blues," introduces a sense of foreboding and sadness as the effects of drought and soil erosion begin to take their toll. The fifth movement, "Devastation," is a stark and dissonant depiction of the destruction caused by the Dust Bowl. The final movement, "Reclamation," offers a glimmer of hope as the government's efforts to combat soil erosion and drought are shown. Thomson's music for "The Plow That Broke the Plains" is characterized by its use of American folk melodies and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of jazz and blues elements. The music is often sparse and dissonant, reflecting the harshness of the landscape and the difficulties faced by the farmers. However, there are also moments of lyricism and beauty, particularly in the "Pastoral" movement. Overall, "The Plow That Broke the Plains" is a powerful and evocative work that effectively captures the spirit of the Great Plains and the struggles of the people who lived there during the Dust Bowl era.

More....