Composer

:

Alexander Borodin

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1868

Publication Date

:

1870

Average_duration

:

1:37

Alexander Borodin was a Russian composer, chemist, and physician who lived from 1833 to 1887. He was a member of the group of composers known as "The Five," which also included Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Cesar Cui, and Mily Balakirev. Borodin's most famous work is his opera "Prince Igor," but he also composed a number of songs, including "My Songs Are Poisoned." "My Songs Are Poisoned" was composed in 1868 and premiered in St. Petersburg in 1871. The song is part of a collection of six songs called "Six Romances," which Borodin composed between 1867 and 1872. The lyrics for "My Songs Are Poisoned" were written by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, a Russian poet and playwright. The song is in the key of A minor and is written for voice and piano. It has a slow, mournful tempo and is marked "Andante non troppo." The melody is simple and repetitive, with a descending line that emphasizes the melancholy mood of the lyrics. The piano accompaniment is also simple, with a steady rhythm and occasional arpeggios that add to the sense of sadness. The lyrics of "My Songs Are Poisoned" are about the pain of unrequited love. The speaker of the song is a musician who has written many songs about his love for a woman who does not return his feelings. He laments that his songs, which were once a source of joy and comfort to him, have now become poisoned by his unrequited love. He sings, "My songs are poisoned, they are bitter to me now / They are full of sadness, they are full of tears." Overall, "My Songs Are Poisoned" is a beautiful and haunting song that captures the pain of unrequited love. Borodin's simple melody and accompaniment allow the lyrics to take center stage, and the result is a powerful expression of heartbreak and sorrow.

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