Composer

:

Edward Elgar

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Part Song

Compose Date

:

1907

Average_duration

:

2:58

"How Calmly the Evening" is a choral work composed by Edward Elgar in 1904. It was premiered on October 6, 1904, at the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival, with Elgar conducting the choir and orchestra. The piece is a setting of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, titled "The Light of Stars." The work is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto" and begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the strings. The choir enters with the first line of the poem, "How calmly the evening once more is descending," and the music builds to a climax before subsiding into a peaceful conclusion. The second movement is marked "Allegretto" and is more lively than the first. The choir sings of the stars shining in the sky, and the music reflects this with twinkling, sparkling motifs in the strings and woodwinds. The final movement is marked "Andante" and is the most contemplative of the three. The choir sings of the "eternal silence" of the stars, and the music is hushed and reverent. The piece ends with a quiet, sustained chord in the choir and orchestra. Overall, "How Calmly the Evening" is a beautiful and evocative work that showcases Elgar's skill as a composer of choral music. The piece is notable for its lush harmonies, expressive melodies, and sensitive setting of Longfellow's poetry. It remains a popular choice for choirs and audiences alike, and is a testament to Elgar's enduring legacy as one of England's greatest composers.

More....