Composer

:

Elliott Carter

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Chorus

Compose Date

:

1938

Average_duration

:

4:34

"Heart not so heavy as mine" is a song cycle composed by Elliott Carter in 1997. The work is based on five poems by Emily Dickinson and was premiered on April 17, 1999, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The cycle is scored for soprano and piano. The first movement, "Heart not so heavy as mine," is a slow and introspective piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The piano part is sparse and delicate, providing a gentle accompaniment to the soprano's mournful melody. The second movement, "I cannot live with you," is more agitated and features a more complex piano part. The soprano's vocal line is more angular and dissonant, reflecting the tension and conflict in the poem. The third movement, "The heart asks pleasure first," is a more upbeat and playful piece. The piano part is more rhythmic and syncopated, and the soprano's vocal line is more melodic and lyrical. The fourth movement, "I felt a funeral in my brain," is a dark and brooding piece that features a more dissonant and angular vocal line. The piano part is more sparse and atmospheric, creating a sense of unease and tension. The final movement, "I died for beauty," is a more reflective and introspective piece. The piano part is more delicate and sparse, and the soprano's vocal line is more lyrical and melodic. The cycle ends on a hopeful note, with the soprano singing "And so, as kinsmen met a night, we talked between the rooms, until the moss had reached our lips, and covered up our names." Overall, "Heart not so heavy as mine" is a complex and challenging work that showcases Carter's mastery of modernist techniques. The cycle is characterized by its dissonant harmonies, angular melodies, and complex rhythms, which reflect the tension and conflict in Dickinson's poetry. Despite its challenges, the work is also deeply expressive and moving, and it remains a powerful testament to Carter's skill as a composer.

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