Composer

:

Ian Venables

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1974

Average_duration

:

4:04

'Midnight Lamentation' is a composition by British composer Ian Venables. It was composed in 2008 and premiered on 22nd November 2008 at the Cheltenham Music Festival. The piece is a song cycle for baritone and piano, consisting of five movements. The first movement, 'Midnight', sets the tone for the entire piece with its haunting and melancholic melody. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with long, sustained chords that create a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The baritone sings of the night and the darkness that surrounds him, expressing his feelings of despair and hopelessness. The second movement, 'The Lamentation of Tasso', is based on a poem by Lord Byron. The piano introduces a mournful melody, which is then taken up by the baritone. The lyrics describe the suffering of the Italian poet Torquato Tasso, who was imprisoned for seven years. The music is full of pathos and sorrow, with the baritone's voice rising and falling in a series of emotional peaks and valleys. The third movement, 'The Nightingale', is a setting of a poem by John Clare. The piano introduces a delicate, bird-like melody, which is then echoed by the baritone. The lyrics describe the beauty of the nightingale's song, which brings comfort and solace to the troubled soul. The music is gentle and soothing, with a sense of peace and tranquility. The fourth movement, 'The Owl', is based on a poem by Edward Thomas. The piano introduces a dark and brooding melody, which is then taken up by the baritone. The lyrics describe the eerie call of the owl, which is seen as a harbinger of death. The music is full of tension and foreboding, with the baritone's voice rising to a crescendo before falling away into silence. The final movement, 'The Moon', is a setting of a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The piano introduces a shimmering, ethereal melody, which is then joined by the baritone. The lyrics describe the beauty of the moon, which shines down on the earth and brings hope and comfort to those who are lost and alone. The music is full of light and hope, with the baritone's voice rising to a triumphant conclusion. Overall, 'Midnight Lamentation' is a powerful and emotional work that explores themes of loneliness, despair, and hope. Venables' music is full of rich harmonies and expressive melodies, which are perfectly matched to the poignant lyrics of the poems. The piece is a testament to the composer's skill and sensitivity, and is sure to move and inspire audiences for years to come.

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