Composer

:

Alan Hovhaness

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Monologue

Compose Date

:

1975

Average_duration

:

13:51

Rubaiyat, for speaker, Op. 308 is a musical composition by American composer Alan Hovhaness. The piece was composed in 1976 and premiered on May 7, 1977, at the University of Washington in Seattle. The composition is based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam, a Persian poet, mathematician, and astronomer. The piece is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a different quatrain from Khayyam's Rubaiyat. The first movement, "Awake!," is a call to action, urging the listener to awaken from their slumber and embrace life. The second movement, "The Moving Finger," is a meditation on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death. The third movement, "The Wine of Life," celebrates the joys of life and the pleasures of the senses. The final movement, "The End of Time," is a contemplation of the afterlife and the mysteries of the universe. Hovhaness's composition is characterized by its use of modal melodies, simple harmonies, and repetitive rhythms. The piece is scored for speaker, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, percussion, and strings. The speaker recites the poetry of Khayyam, while the instruments provide a musical accompaniment that reflects the mood and meaning of the text. Overall, Rubaiyat, for speaker, Op. 308 is a contemplative and introspective work that invites the listener to reflect on the nature of life, death, and the universe. Hovhaness's use of Khayyam's poetry as a source of inspiration gives the piece a timeless quality that resonates with audiences today.

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