Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1898

Publication Date

:

1922

First Performance

:

Mar 17, 1967

Average_duration

:

1:51

"The World's Wanderers, S. 398" is a choral work composed by Charles Ives in 1917. It was premiered on May 20, 1920, by the New York Philharmonic Society under the direction of Walter Damrosch. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, "The World's Wanderers," is a setting of a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It begins with a solo soprano voice singing a haunting melody, which is then joined by the rest of the choir. The music is characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which create a sense of unease and restlessness. The lyrics speak of the transience of life and the impermanence of all things, a theme that is echoed in the music. The second movement, "Memories," is a setting of a poem by Ives himself. It is a nostalgic and wistful piece, with a simple melody that is repeated and developed throughout. The harmonies are more conventional than in the first movement, but there are still moments of dissonance and unexpected chord changes. The lyrics speak of the power of memories to transport us back in time and evoke strong emotions. The final movement, "Hymn," is a setting of a traditional hymn text. It is a more straightforward and traditional piece than the previous two movements, with a simple melody and harmonies that are more conventional. However, there are still moments of dissonance and unexpected chord changes that give the music a unique character. The lyrics speak of the hope and comfort that can be found in faith and the promise of eternal life. Overall, "The World's Wanderers, S. 398" is a complex and challenging work that showcases Ives' unique style and approach to composition. It combines elements of traditional choral music with unconventional harmonies and dissonance, creating a sense of restlessness and unease that is characteristic of much of Ives' music. Despite its challenges, the piece has become a beloved part of the choral repertoire and continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences alike.

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