Composer

:

Earl Kim

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1989

Average_duration

:

12:58

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Earl Kim's 'Poems (3) in French' is a song cycle composed for soprano and piano. The work was composed in 1971 and premiered on March 7, 1972, at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. The cycle consists of three movements, each based on a French poem. The first movement, 'Le Pont Mirabeau' by Guillaume Apollinaire, is a melancholic reflection on the passage of time and the transience of life. The music is characterized by a slow, mournful melody in the piano, which is accompanied by the soprano's plaintive vocal line. The use of dissonant harmonies and chromaticism adds to the sense of unease and sadness in the music. The second movement, 'Le Tombeau des Naïades' by Pierre Louÿs, is a more upbeat and lively piece. The poem describes a group of nymphs dancing in a forest, and the music reflects this sense of movement and energy. The piano part is particularly virtuosic, with rapid arpeggios and cascading runs, while the soprano's vocal line is light and playful. The final movement, 'Le Bateau Ivre' by Arthur Rimbaud, is the longest and most complex of the three. The poem describes a drunken boat journey, and the music reflects the sense of disorientation and chaos in the text. The piano part is particularly dissonant and fragmented, with sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics, while the soprano's vocal line is often fragmented and disjointed. Overall, 'Poems (3) in French' is a challenging and rewarding work for both performers and listeners. The music is characterized by a sense of melancholy and unease, but also by moments of beauty and playfulness. The use of French poetry adds an extra layer of meaning and depth to the work, making it a powerful exploration of the human experience.

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