Composer

:

Lennox Berkeley

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1973

Average_duration

:

9:00

Lennox Berkeley's 'Voices of the Night, Op. 86' is a choral work that was composed in 1974. It was premiered on 17th October 1974 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, by the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, conducted by the composer himself. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a poem by a different author. The first movement, 'The Night is Darkening Round Me', is based on a poem by Emily Bronte. It is a slow and somber piece, with the choir singing in unison for much of the movement. The orchestration is sparse, with the strings providing a gentle accompaniment to the choir. The second movement, 'Echoes', is based on a poem by Walter de la Mare. It is a more lively and rhythmic piece, with the choir singing in harmony and the orchestra providing a more prominent accompaniment. The movement features a solo soprano part, which is sung over the choir and orchestra. The final movement, 'The Owl', is based on a poem by Edward Thomas. It is a slow and atmospheric piece, with the choir singing in unison for much of the movement. The orchestration is again sparse, with the strings providing a haunting accompaniment to the choir. The movement features a solo tenor part, which is sung over the choir and orchestra. Overall, 'Voices of the Night, Op. 86' is a haunting and atmospheric work, with a strong emphasis on the text and the vocal parts. The orchestration is sparse but effective, and the solo parts add an extra layer of depth to the work. It is a challenging piece for both choir and orchestra, but one that is well worth the effort.

More....