Composer

:

Frank Martin

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1950

First Performance

:

Mar 17, 1953

Average_duration

:

11:46

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Frank Martin's "Ariel Songs (5)" is a song cycle composed in 1950 for soprano and piano. The work is based on texts from William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest," specifically the character Ariel's songs. The premiere of the work was in 1951 in Zurich, Switzerland. The five movements of the work are titled "Come unto these yellow sands," "Full fathom five," "Where the bee sucks," "Before you can say 'come' and 'go'," and "You are three men of sin." Each movement is distinct in character and mood, ranging from playful and light-hearted to dark and ominous. The first movement, "Come unto these yellow sands," is a lively and rhythmic piece that captures the playful nature of Ariel's character. The second movement, "Full fathom five," is a haunting and ethereal piece that uses dissonant harmonies and a slow tempo to create a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. The third movement, "Where the bee sucks," is a light and whimsical piece that features a playful melody and a lively piano accompaniment. The fourth movement, "Before you can say 'come' and 'go'," is a fast-paced and energetic piece that captures the urgency and excitement of Ariel's character. The final movement, "You are three men of sin," is a dark and ominous piece that uses dissonant harmonies and a slow tempo to create a sense of foreboding and danger. The movement builds to a dramatic climax before ending on a quiet and haunting note. Overall, "Ariel Songs (5)" is a masterful work that showcases Frank Martin's skill as a composer. The work captures the essence of Shakespeare's play and brings Ariel's character to life through music.

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