Composer

:

Milton Babbitt

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1997

Average_duration

:

1:53

Milton Babbitt's "Accompanied Recitative" is a composition for soprano and piano, composed in 1979. The piece was premiered on April 17, 1980, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., with Bethany Beardslee as the soprano and the composer himself at the piano. The composition consists of three movements, each of which is a setting of a text by John Hollander. The first movement, "The Night Is a Woman," is a slow and expressive recitative that explores the theme of night as a feminine force. The second movement, "The Heart Is a Woman," is a faster and more rhythmic recitative that explores the theme of the heart as a feminine force. The third movement, "The Mind Is a Woman," is a slower and more introspective recitative that explores the theme of the mind as a feminine force. One of the characteristics of "Accompanied Recitative" is its use of complex and intricate rhythms. Babbitt's music is known for its use of serialism and other advanced compositional techniques, and "Accompanied Recitative" is no exception. The piano part is particularly challenging, with frequent changes in meter and tempo. Another characteristic of the piece is its use of extended vocal techniques. The soprano is required to use a wide range of vocal techniques, including sprechstimme (a style of singing that is halfway between speaking and singing), glissandi (sliding between notes), and other non-traditional vocal effects. Overall, "Accompanied Recitative" is a challenging and complex composition that showcases Babbitt's mastery of advanced compositional techniques. Its use of intricate rhythms and extended vocal techniques make it a unique and innovative work that continues to be studied and performed by contemporary musicians.

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