Composer

:

Maurice Jacobson

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1946

Average_duration

:

5:54

The Song of Songs is a choral work composed by Maurice Jacobson in 1955. It premiered on May 17, 1956, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different section of the biblical book Song of Solomon. The first movement, "The Voice of My Beloved," is a setting of the opening verses of the Song of Solomon. It begins with a solo soprano singing the words "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth," which are then taken up by the choir. The music is lush and romantic, with soaring melodies and rich harmonies. The second movement, "I Am the Rose of Sharon," is a setting of the middle section of the Song of Solomon. It features a solo mezzo-soprano singing the words "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." The music is more introspective than the first movement, with a sense of longing and yearning. The final movement, "Set Me as a Seal Upon Thine Heart," is a setting of the closing verses of the Song of Solomon. It begins with a solo tenor singing the words "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm." The music is more upbeat than the second movement, with a sense of joy and celebration. Overall, The Song of Songs is a lush and romantic choral work that captures the sensuality and passion of the biblical text. It is characterized by soaring melodies, rich harmonies, and a sense of longing and yearning.

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