Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

1:49

'Full of life now' is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 2000. The premiere of the work was given by soprano Susan Narucki and pianist Donald Berman at the Tanglewood Festival in Massachusetts on August 6, 2000. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by a different author. The first movement, "Full of life now," sets a poem by Walt Whitman. The music is lively and energetic, with a driving piano accompaniment and soaring vocal lines that capture the exuberance of the text. The second movement, "The Nightingale," sets a poem by Thomas Hardy. The music is more subdued and introspective, with a haunting melody that evokes the melancholy of the text. The third movement, "The Windhover," sets a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins. The music is soaring and majestic, with a sense of awe and wonder that captures the beauty of the natural world. The fourth movement, "The Fish," sets a poem by Elizabeth Bishop. The music is playful and whimsical, with a lively piano accompaniment and vocal lines that capture the humor and wit of the text. The final movement, "The Sunflower," sets a poem by William Blake. The music is serene and contemplative, with a gentle melody that evokes the peacefulness of the natural world. Throughout the cycle, Rorem's music is characterized by its lyrical beauty, expressive melodies, and sensitive treatment of the text. The piano accompaniment is particularly noteworthy, with its intricate harmonies and rhythmic vitality providing a rich and varied backdrop for the vocal lines. Overall, 'Full of life now' is a masterful work that showcases Rorem's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the human experience.

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