Composer

:

Per Nørgård

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1981

Average_duration

:

14:51

'Dream Songs' is a choral work composed by Danish composer Per Nørgård in 1984. The piece was premiered on October 12, 1984, by the Danish National Radio Choir, conducted by Stefan Parkman. The work consists of six movements, each of which is based on a poem by the American poet, Theodore Roethke. The first movement, "The Waking," is characterized by a slow and meditative tempo, with the choir singing in unison. The second movement, "The Dream," is more lively and features a faster tempo, with the choir singing in a more complex and polyphonic style. The third movement, "The Nightmare," is the most intense and dramatic of the six, with the choir singing in a dissonant and chaotic style. The fourth movement, "The Far Field," is more peaceful and contemplative, with the choir singing in a more harmonious and melodic style. The fifth movement, "The Reckoning," is more rhythmic and features a driving beat, with the choir singing in a more percussive style. The final movement, "The Flight," is the most uplifting and joyful of the six, with the choir singing in a more celebratory and triumphant style. Overall, 'Dream Songs' is characterized by Nørgård's use of complex harmonies and rhythms, as well as his incorporation of elements of folk music and traditional choral music. The piece is also notable for its use of extended vocal techniques, such as glissandi and whispering, which add to the dreamlike and surreal quality of the work.

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