Composer

:

Dominick Argento

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

34:16

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

"From the Diary of Virginia Woolf" is a song cycle composed by Dominick Argento in 1974. The piece was premiered on October 10, 1974, by the soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Antal Doráti. The cycle consists of eight movements, each of which sets a different excerpt from the diary of the English writer Virginia Woolf. The first movement, "Foreboding," sets a passage in which Woolf describes a sense of impending doom. The music is tense and dissonant, with jagged rhythms and angular melodies that convey a sense of unease and anxiety. The second movement, "Childhood," is a nostalgic reflection on Woolf's early years. The music is gentle and lyrical, with a simple, flowing melody that evokes the innocence and wonder of childhood. The third movement, "Meeting Again," sets a passage in which Woolf describes a reunion with an old friend. The music is warm and expressive, with soaring melodies and lush harmonies that convey a sense of joy and emotional connection. The fourth movement, "The Waves," is a meditation on the ebb and flow of life. The music is fluid and constantly shifting, with overlapping vocal lines and shimmering orchestration that evoke the movement of the sea. The fifth movement, "The Diary," sets a passage in which Woolf reflects on the act of writing. The music is introspective and contemplative, with a haunting melody and spare, delicate accompaniment that convey a sense of solitude and introspection. The sixth movement, "Anxiety," returns to the theme of foreboding, with Woolf describing a sense of impending doom. The music is tense and dissonant, with jagged rhythms and angular melodies that convey a sense of unease and anxiety. The seventh movement, "Fancy," is a playful and whimsical reflection on the power of imagination. The music is light and fanciful, with a sprightly melody and playful orchestration that evoke the joy and wonder of creative inspiration. The final movement, "Joy," is a celebration of life and the beauty of the natural world. The music is exuberant and joyful, with soaring melodies and lush harmonies that convey a sense of wonder and awe. Overall, "From the Diary of Virginia Woolf" is a deeply emotional and introspective work that explores themes of life, death, creativity, and the human experience. Argento's music is richly expressive and evocative, capturing the complex and often contradictory emotions of Woolf's writing with sensitivity and nuance.

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