Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Average_duration

:

1:15

"I Strolled Across an Open Field" is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1966. The premiere of the work was given by soprano Phyllis Curtin and pianist John Wustman at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 1967. The cycle consists of eight movements, each of which sets a poem by a different author. The poems are all united by a common theme of nature and the outdoors, and Rorem's music reflects this theme with its use of open harmonies and flowing melodies. The first movement, "I strolled across an open field," sets a poem by Walt Whitman and features a simple, repetitive melody that evokes the feeling of walking through a field. The second movement, "The Nightingale," sets a poem by Thomas Hardy and features a more complex, chromatic melody that reflects the bird's intricate song. The third movement, "The Serpent," sets a poem by Emily Dickinson and features a sinuous, winding melody that reflects the movement of the snake. The fourth movement, "The Rainbow," sets a poem by William Wordsworth and features a bright, colorful melody that evokes the image of a rainbow. The fifth movement, "The Leaves are Falling," sets a poem by Conrad Aiken and features a melancholy, descending melody that reflects the falling leaves. The sixth movement, "What if some little pain," sets a poem by Emily Dickinson and features a delicate, introspective melody that reflects the poem's contemplative mood. The seventh movement, "The Rose Family," sets a poem by Robert Frost and features a playful, syncopated melody that reflects the poem's humorous tone. The final movement, "After the Rain," sets a poem by James Wright and features a lush, romantic melody that reflects the beauty of the natural world after a rainstorm. Overall, "I Strolled Across an Open Field" is a beautiful and evocative song cycle that showcases Rorem's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of nature in music.

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