Composer

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Roy Harris

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Song

Average_duration

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2:08

American Ballads (10) for piano: No. 2, Wayfaring Stranger is a composition by the American composer Roy Harris. It was composed in 1946 and premiered the same year. The piece is part of a larger collection of ten piano pieces, each based on a different American folk song. The second movement, Wayfaring Stranger, is a haunting and melancholic piece that captures the essence of the traditional folk song. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a slow and steady tempo that evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia. The harmonies are sparse and open, allowing the melody to shine through. Harris's arrangement of the folk song is faithful to the original melody, but he adds his own unique touches to the piece. The left hand plays a simple, repetitive pattern that provides a steady foundation for the melody. The right hand plays the melody, with occasional embellishments and variations. One of the most striking features of the piece is its use of dynamics. Harris employs a wide range of dynamics, from soft and delicate to loud and powerful. This creates a sense of tension and release, as the dynamics ebb and flow throughout the piece. Overall, American Ballads (10) for piano: No. 2, Wayfaring Stranger is a beautiful and evocative piece that captures the spirit of the traditional folk song. Harris's arrangement is both faithful to the original melody and uniquely his own, with a haunting melody and dynamic shifts that keep the listener engaged from start to finish.

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