Composer

:

Vincent Persichetti

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Average_duration

:

13:22

A Lincoln Address, Op. 124 is a composition for orchestra and narrator by Vincent Persichetti. It was composed in 1947 and premiered on February 12, 1947, by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy, with actor Raymond Massey as the narrator. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different text related to Abraham Lincoln. The first movement, "Lincoln the Great Commoner," is based on a speech by William Jennings Bryan and features a lively and rhythmic theme that is passed around the orchestra. The second movement, "Lincoln the Man of Sorrows," is based on a poem by Edgar Lee Masters and is more introspective and mournful in character. The final movement, "Lincoln the Beloved," is based on a eulogy by Carl Sandburg and is the most uplifting and celebratory of the three. Throughout the piece, Persichetti employs a wide range of orchestral colors and textures, from the bright and brassy opening of the first movement to the delicate and ethereal strings in the second movement. The narrator's role is also an important part of the composition, with the text serving as a guide for the emotional and musical content of each movement. Overall, A Lincoln Address is a powerful and moving tribute to one of America's greatest presidents, and a testament to Persichetti's skill as a composer and orchestrator.

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