Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1945

Average_duration

:

23:39

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

The Holy Sonnets (9) of John Donne, Op. 35 is a song cycle composed by Benjamin Britten in 1945. The premiere of the work was on October 10, 1945, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with the tenor Peter Pears and the composer at the piano. The cycle consists of nine settings of poems by the 17th-century English poet John Donne, who was known for his religious and metaphysical poetry. The first movement, "Oh my blacke Soule!", is a somber and introspective piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "Batter my heart, three-person'd God", is a passionate plea for divine intervention in the speaker's life. The third movement, "O might those sighes and teares", is a mournful reflection on the speaker's sins and the need for redemption. The fourth movement, "Oh, to vex me, contraryes meet in one", is a playful and witty piece that explores the paradoxes of human nature. The fifth movement, "What if this present were the world's last night?", is a contemplation of the end of the world and the judgment that will follow. The sixth movement, "Since she whom I lov'd hath pay'd her last debt", is a mournful reflection on the death of a loved one. The seventh movement, "At the round earth's imagin'd corners", is a powerful meditation on the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment. The eighth movement, "Thou hast made me", is a hymn of praise to God for the speaker's creation and existence. The final movement, "Death, be not proud", is a defiant rejection of death and a celebration of eternal life. The Holy Sonnets (9) of John Donne, Op. 35 is characterized by Britten's skillful use of musical motifs and his ability to capture the emotional depth and complexity of Donne's poetry. The cycle is also notable for its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which reflect the tension and conflict inherent in the poems. Overall, The Holy Sonnets (9) of John Donne, Op. 35 is a powerful and moving work that showcases Britten's mastery of the art song genre.

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