Composer

:

Mátyás Seiber

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1947

Average_duration

:

48:51

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

'Ulysses' is a composition by Hungarian composer Mátyás Seiber, which was composed in 1953. The piece was premiered in London in 1955, and it is considered one of Seiber's most significant works. 'Ulysses' is a song cycle for tenor and seven instruments, based on James Joyce's novel of the same name. The composition consists of six movements, each of which represents a different episode from Joyce's novel. The first movement, 'Telemachus', is a setting of the opening scene of the novel, in which Stephen Dedalus and Buck Mulligan have a conversation on the roof of the Martello tower. The second movement, 'Nestor', is a setting of the scene in which Stephen teaches a history lesson to his students at the school where he works. The third movement, 'Proteus', is a setting of the scene in which Stephen walks along the beach and contemplates the nature of reality. The fourth movement, 'Calypso', is a setting of the scene in which Leopold Bloom has breakfast and reads the newspaper. The fifth movement, 'Lotus Eaters', is a setting of the scene in which Bloom visits a pub and has a conversation with some of the patrons. The final movement, 'Penelope', is a setting of the scene in which Molly Bloom lies in bed and thinks about her life and her relationship with Leopold. Each movement of the composition is characterized by a different musical style, reflecting the different moods and themes of the corresponding episode from the novel. Overall, 'Ulysses' is a complex and challenging work, both musically and thematically. Seiber's use of different musical styles and techniques reflects the fragmented and multi-layered nature of Joyce's novel, while the vocal and instrumental parts work together to create a rich and evocative musical landscape. Despite its difficulty, 'Ulysses' remains a significant work in the canon of 20th-century music, and a testament to Seiber's skill and creativity as a composer.

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