Composer

:

Ricky Ian Gordon

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:37

"I Am Cherry Alive" is a song cycle composed by Ricky Ian Gordon in 2001. The piece premiered on October 14, 2001, at the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The cycle consists of 14 songs, each of which is based on a poem by the American poet Delmore Schwartz. The first movement, "I Am Cherry Alive," sets the tone for the entire cycle. It is a joyful and exuberant song that celebrates life and the beauty of the world. The second movement, "In the Naked Bed, in Plato's Cave," is a more introspective piece that explores the nature of reality and the human condition. The third movement, "The Heavy Bear Who Goes With Me," is a dark and brooding song that delves into the darker aspects of the human psyche. The fourth movement, "The Ballad of the Children of the Czar," is a haunting and melancholy piece that tells the story of the Romanov family and their tragic end. The fifth movement, "The Crazy Woman," is a lively and playful song that celebrates the freedom and wildness of the human spirit. The sixth movement, "The Porcelain Head," is a haunting and eerie piece that explores the themes of death and decay. The seventh movement, "The Bells of Dis," is a dark and ominous song that explores the themes of madness and despair. The eighth movement, "The Encounter," is a tender and intimate piece that explores the themes of love and connection. The ninth movement, "The Room," is a haunting and atmospheric song that explores the themes of isolation and loneliness. The tenth movement, "The Ballad of the Goodly Fere," is a rousing and triumphant song that celebrates the power of friendship and loyalty. The eleventh movement, "The Last Words of My English Grandmother," is a poignant and bittersweet song that explores the themes of memory and loss. The twelfth movement, "The Death of the Hired Man," is a somber and reflective piece that explores the themes of work and mortality. The thirteenth movement, "The Changeling," is a haunting and eerie song that explores the themes of transformation and identity. The final movement, "The Poet," is a joyful and celebratory piece that celebrates the power of poetry and the human imagination. Overall, "I Am Cherry Alive" is a powerful and moving song cycle that explores a wide range of themes and emotions. Gordon's music is both lyrical and expressive, and his settings of Schwartz's poems are both sensitive and insightful. The cycle is a testament to the power of poetry and music to capture the essence of the human experience.

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