Composer

:

Jonathan Dove

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

50:49

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

There Was a Child is a choral work composed by Jonathan Dove in 2018. It was premiered on December 7, 2018, by the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Simon Halsey, at the Barbican Centre in London. The piece is divided into six movements, each based on a different poem about childhood. The first movement, "There Was a Child," sets the tone for the piece with a simple, yet haunting melody sung by the choir. The second movement, "The Tiger," is a lively and playful setting of William Blake's famous poem. The third movement, "The Moon," is a serene and reflective setting of Robert Louis Stevenson's poem. The fourth movement, "The Child and the Shadow," is a dark and mysterious setting of a poem by W.B. Yeats. The fifth movement, "The Dormouse and the Doctor," is a whimsical and humorous setting of a poem by Lewis Carroll. The final movement, "The Evening Primrose," is a peaceful and contemplative setting of a poem by John Clare. The piece is characterized by Dove's use of rich harmonies and lush orchestration, which create a sense of warmth and intimacy. The choir is often used as a soloist, with the orchestra providing a supportive and complementary role. The text is also a central focus of the piece, with Dove's music serving to enhance and amplify the emotional content of the poems. Overall, There Was a Child is a beautiful and moving tribute to childhood, capturing both the joy and wonder, as well as the darker and more mysterious aspects of this formative time in our lives.

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