Composer

:

Fartein Valen

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1933 - 1934

Average_duration

:

10:23

Le Cimetiere Marin for orchestra, Op. 20 is a composition by Norwegian composer Fartein Valen. It was composed in 1930 and premiered in Oslo on March 3, 1931, conducted by Johan Halvorsen. The piece is divided into three movements and has a total duration of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement, marked "Lento," begins with a somber and mournful theme played by the strings. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the brass and percussion joining in to create a sense of tension and unease. The movement ends with a return to the opening theme, played softly and mournfully. The second movement, marked "Allegro," is more lively and energetic than the first. The music is characterized by fast, rhythmic passages played by the strings and woodwinds, punctuated by bursts of brass and percussion. The movement builds to a frenzied climax before abruptly ending. The final movement, marked "Lento," returns to the mournful mood of the first. The music is characterized by long, sustained notes played by the strings, punctuated by occasional bursts of brass and percussion. The movement gradually builds in intensity before ending with a quiet, mournful coda. Le Cimetiere Marin is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex harmonies, which were unusual for the time of its composition. Valen was influenced by the music of Arnold Schoenberg and other composers associated with the Second Viennese School, and his use of atonality and serialism in this piece was groundbreaking for Norwegian music. Overall, Le Cimetiere Marin is a powerful and emotionally charged work that showcases Valen's unique musical voice and his willingness to push the boundaries of traditional tonality.

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