Composer

:

Antonin Dvorák

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Mar 5, 1894 - Mar 26, 1894

Publication Date

:

1895

Average_duration

:

25:08

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

Antonin Dvorák's Biblical Songs (10), B. 185, Op. 99, is a cycle of ten songs for voice and piano, composed in 1894. The songs are based on texts from the Book of Psalms, translated into Czech by Josef Václav Sládek. The premiere of the cycle took place in Prague on January 5, 1895, with the composer's son-in-law, the tenor Vilém Zítek, and the pianist Karel Hoffmann. The ten songs in the cycle are: 1. "Clouds and Darkness" (Oblaky a mrákota) 2. "Thou Art My Refuge" (Bože, Bože můj) 3. "I Will Sing New Songs" (Novou píseň budu zpívat) 4. "By the Waters of Babylon" (U vod potoka babylonského) 5. "Turn Thee to Me" (Při mě se, Bože, zastav) 6. "I Waited for the Lord" (Čekal jsem na Pána) 7. "Hear My Prayer, O Lord" (Slyš, ó Bože, volání mé) 8. "Blessed Is the Man" (Blaze muži) 9. "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes" (Oči své k nebi zvednu) 10. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" (Sám Hospodin pastýř můj) The songs are characterized by Dvorák's distinctive melodic and harmonic style, which blends elements of Czech folk music with classical forms and techniques. The texts of the Psalms are treated with reverence and sensitivity, and the music reflects the emotional range of the texts, from despair and longing to joy and praise. The first song, "Clouds and Darkness," sets the tone for the cycle with its somber, introspective mood and chromatic harmonies. The second song, "Thou Art My Refuge," is more hopeful, with a soaring melody and a sense of assurance in God's protection. The third song, "I Will Sing New Songs," is a lively, dance-like setting of Psalm 149, with a catchy melody and rhythmic energy. The fourth song, "By the Waters of Babylon," is a poignant setting of Psalm 137, which laments the exile of the Israelites in Babylon. The fifth song, "Turn Thee to Me," is a prayer for God's presence and guidance, with a gentle, flowing melody and a sense of intimacy. The sixth song, "I Waited for the Lord," is a dramatic setting of Psalm 40, with a powerful climax and a sense of triumph over adversity. The seventh song, "Hear My Prayer, O Lord," is a plaintive plea for God's mercy, with a haunting melody and a sense of urgency. The eighth song, "Blessed Is the Man," is a joyful celebration of the righteous, with a lively, dance-like rhythm and a sense of exuberance. The ninth song, "I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes," is a serene setting of Psalm 121, with a gentle, flowing melody and a sense of peace and comfort. The final song, "The Lord Is My Shepherd," is perhaps the most famous of the cycle, with its simple, hymn-like melody and its comforting message of God's care and protection. The cycle as a whole is a testament to Dvorák's deep faith and his ability to express the full range of human emotion through music.

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