Composer

:

Samuel Barber

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1938

Average_duration

:

6:52

"God's Grandeur" is a choral work composed by Samuel Barber in 1968. The piece is based on a poem of the same name by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a 19th-century English poet. The work was premiered on May 18, 1968, by the Choral Art Society of Philadelphia, conducted by Robert Page. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the poem's themes. The first movement, "The World is Charged," is a powerful and energetic setting of the poem's opening lines. The music is characterized by driving rhythms and bold harmonies, reflecting the poem's sense of urgency and vitality. The second movement, "It Will Flame Out," is a more contemplative and introspective setting of the poem's middle section. The music is marked by a sense of stillness and quiet intensity, reflecting the poem's themes of transience and impermanence. The final movement, "Generations Have Trod," is a majestic and triumphant setting of the poem's closing lines. The music is characterized by soaring melodies and rich harmonies, reflecting the poem's sense of hope and renewal. Throughout the piece, Barber's music captures the vivid imagery and powerful emotions of Hopkins' poem. The music is marked by a sense of grandeur and majesty, reflecting the poem's themes of the divine and the sublime. At the same time, Barber's music is deeply personal and expressive, reflecting his own spiritual and artistic vision. Overall, "God's Grandeur" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Barber's mastery of choral composition. Its premiere in 1968 was a significant event in the history of American choral music, and the piece continues to be performed and admired by choirs and audiences around the world.

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