Composer

:

Mari Esabel Valverde

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2009

Average_duration

:

3:51

"Darest, O Soul" is a contemporary choral work composed by Mari Esabel Valverde. The piece was composed in 2016 and premiered on May 7th of the same year by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, "Darest, O Soul," is a setting of a poem by Walt Whitman. The music is characterized by a flowing, lyrical melody that is passed between the different sections of the choir. The harmonies are rich and complex, with dissonances that create a sense of tension and release. The text is set in a way that emphasizes the natural rhythms of the words, with the music rising and falling in response to the meaning of the text. The second movement, "I Sing the Body Electric," is a setting of another poem by Whitman. This movement is more rhythmic and energetic than the first, with a driving pulse that propels the music forward. The choir is divided into different sections, with each section singing a different part of the text. The harmonies are more dissonant in this movement, with clusters of notes that create a sense of tension and excitement. The final movement, "O Living Always, Always Dying," is a setting of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. This movement is more introspective and contemplative than the previous two, with a slower tempo and more sustained harmonies. The text is set in a way that emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and death, with the music rising and falling in response to the meaning of the words. Overall, "Darest, O Soul" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Valverde's skill as a composer. The music is complex and challenging, but also deeply expressive and emotionally resonant. The work is a testament to the enduring power of choral music to inspire and uplift the human spirit.

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