Composer

:

Georgy Sviridov

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

22:08

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Georgy Sviridov's 'Choruses (5) on Russian Poems' is a choral work composed in 1951. The piece premiered in Moscow in the same year, performed by the USSR State Academic Choir under the direction of Alexander Sveshnikov. The work is divided into five movements, each based on a different Russian poem. The first movement, 'The Nightingale', is a setting of a poem by Alexander Pushkin. It features a solo soprano and a choir, with the soprano representing the nightingale and the choir representing the poet. The music is characterized by its lyrical melodies and lush harmonies, which evoke the beauty of the natural world. The second movement, 'The Birch Tree', is based on a poem by Sergei Yesenin. It is a lively and energetic piece, with a fast tempo and rhythmic drive. The music is characterized by its use of folk-like melodies and dance rhythms, which reflect the poem's celebration of the Russian countryside. The third movement, 'The Sun Has Set', is a setting of a poem by Mikhail Lermontov. It is a slow and mournful piece, with a somber melody and rich harmonies. The music reflects the poem's themes of loss and sadness, and is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance. The fourth movement, 'The Snowstorm', is based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin. It is a dramatic and intense piece, with a fast tempo and driving rhythms. The music is characterized by its use of ostinato patterns and repeated motifs, which create a sense of urgency and chaos. The final movement, 'The Virgin in the City', is a setting of a poem by Boris Pasternak. It is a slow and contemplative piece, with a simple melody and sparse harmonies. The music reflects the poem's themes of spirituality and transcendence, and is characterized by its use of modal harmonies and chant-like melodies. Overall, Sviridov's 'Choruses (5) on Russian Poems' is a powerful and evocative work that showcases the composer's skill in setting poetry to music. The piece is characterized by its use of rich harmonies, folk-like melodies, and dramatic contrasts, which create a vivid and compelling musical landscape.

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