Composer

:

Ned Rorem

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1978 - 1979

Average_duration

:

17:46

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Nantucket Songs is a song cycle composed by Ned Rorem in 1983. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by various poets. The premiere of the cycle was given by soprano Benita Valente and pianist Rudolf Serkin at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 1983. The first movement, "The Waiting Room," is a setting of a poem by Elizabeth Bishop. The music is characterized by a sense of anticipation and restlessness, with the piano providing a steady, pulsing accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that is both lyrical and angular. The second movement, "The Lost Pilot," is a setting of a poem by James Tate. The music is more introspective and melancholy, with the piano providing a gentle, flowing accompaniment while the voice sings a haunting melody that is full of longing and regret. The third movement, "The Fish," is a setting of a poem by Marianne Moore. The music is playful and whimsical, with the piano providing a lively, syncopated accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that is full of humor and wit. The fourth movement, "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket," is a setting of a poem by Robert Lowell. The music is dark and brooding, with the piano providing a somber, mournful accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that is full of despair and anguish. The final movement, "The Armadillo," is a setting of a poem by Elizabeth Bishop. The music is joyful and celebratory, with the piano providing a lively, energetic accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that is full of exuberance and excitement. Overall, Nantucket Songs is a cycle that showcases Rorem's skill as a composer of art songs. The music is varied and expressive, with each movement capturing the mood and tone of the poem it sets. The cycle is a testament to Rorem's ability to create music that is both beautiful and emotionally powerful.

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