Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

Apr 1917

Publication Date

:

1922

First Performance

:

Apr 15, 1917

Average_duration

:

2:32

In Flanders Fields, S. 277 is a choral work composed by Charles Ives in 1917. The piece is based on the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, which was written during World War I. The work was premiered on May 5, 1921, by the New York Symphony Orchestra and the Oratorio Society of New York, conducted by Walter Damrosch. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement, "In Flanders Fields," is a setting of the poem's first stanza. It begins with a somber, mournful melody in the lower voices, which is then taken up by the upper voices. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the choir singing the words "We are the Dead" in a powerful, dissonant chord. The second movement, "The Answer," is a setting of the poem's second stanza. It begins with a solo soprano singing a gentle, lyrical melody. The choir then enters, singing the words "We shall not sleep" in a hushed, reverent tone. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the choir singing the words "We shall not die" in a triumphant, major-key chord. The third movement, "The Charge of the Dead Brigade," is a setting of the poem's third stanza. It begins with a driving, martial rhythm in the percussion and brass, evoking the sound of a military march. The choir then enters, singing the words "Forward, the Light Brigade!" in a powerful, declamatory style. The music builds to a climax, with the choir and orchestra reaching a frenzied, dissonant chord. Overall, In Flanders Fields, S. 277 is a powerful and moving tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in World War I. Ives' use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies creates a sense of tension and unease, reflecting the horror and tragedy of war. The piece is a testament to the enduring power of music to express the deepest emotions and experiences of the human spirit.

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