Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1969

Average_duration

:

13:13

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

'War Scenes' is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1969. The premiere of the work was given by soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson and pianist Martin Katz at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 1970. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which sets a poem by a different author. The first movement, "Night Crow," sets a poem by Theodore Roethke. The music is characterized by a driving, syncopated rhythm in the piano, which creates a sense of urgency and tension. The vocal line is angular and disjunct, reflecting the fragmented and disjointed imagery of the poem. The second movement, "The Waking," sets a poem by Theodore Roethke. The music is more lyrical and flowing than the first movement, with a gentle, rocking rhythm in the piano. The vocal line is more melodic and expressive, reflecting the more introspective and contemplative nature of the poem. The third movement, "The Dance," sets a poem by William Carlos Williams. The music is lively and rhythmic, with a syncopated piano accompaniment and a playful vocal line. The poem describes a group of soldiers dancing together, and the music captures the sense of camaraderie and joy that the soldiers feel in each other's company. The fourth movement, "Night Battle," sets a poem by Randall Jarrell. The music is dark and ominous, with a brooding piano accompaniment and a tense, declamatory vocal line. The poem describes a night battle in which the soldiers are unable to see each other, and the music captures the sense of confusion and fear that the soldiers feel in this situation. The final movement, "Survivors," sets a poem by Randall Jarrell. The music is more reflective and introspective than the previous movements, with a gentle, flowing piano accompaniment and a tender, expressive vocal line. The poem describes the survivors of a battle coming together to mourn their fallen comrades, and the music captures the sense of grief and loss that they feel. Overall, 'War Scenes' is a powerful and evocative work that captures the complex emotions and experiences of soldiers in wartime. The music is characterized by a wide range of moods and emotions, from the urgent and tense to the reflective and contemplative, and the vocal writing is expressive and nuanced, capturing the nuances of the poetry.

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