Composer

:

Randall Thompson

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1959

Average_duration

:

30:28

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Frostiana is a choral work composed by Randall Thompson in 1959. It is a setting of seven poems by Robert Frost, one of America's most beloved poets. The work was commissioned by the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, where Frost had lived and taught for many years. The premiere of Frostiana took place on October 18, 1959, in Amherst, with the composer conducting the Amherst College Glee Club and the Women's Chorus of the University of Massachusetts. The work is scored for mixed chorus and piano, with optional string orchestra. The seven movements of Frostiana are each based on a different Frost poem, and each has its own distinct character. The first movement, "The Road Not Taken," is a lively and rhythmic setting of one of Frost's most famous poems. The second movement, "The Pasture," is a gentle and pastoral setting of a poem about a farmer inviting a neighbor to help him with his chores. The third movement, "Come In," is a haunting and atmospheric setting of a poem about a traveler seeking shelter from a storm. The fourth movement, "The Telephone," is a humorous and lively setting of a poem about a woman trying to get through to her lover on the phone. The fifth movement, "A Girl's Garden," is a charming and nostalgic setting of a poem about a young girl tending her garden. The sixth movement, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," is a haunting and atmospheric setting of one of Frost's most famous poems. The final movement, "Choose Something Like a Star," is a majestic and uplifting setting of a poem about the beauty and wonder of the night sky. Overall, Frostiana is a beautiful and moving tribute to one of America's greatest poets. Thompson's settings capture the spirit and essence of Frost's poetry, and the work has become a beloved part of the choral repertoire.

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