Composer

:

Eric Whitacre

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

2:45

"Little Birds" is a choral work composed by Eric Whitacre in 2019. It premiered on June 22, 2019, at the National Youth Choir of Great Britain's Annual Showcase Concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a poem by the American poet, e.e. cummings. The first movement, "little birds," is a playful and energetic setting of cummings' poem of the same name. The second movement, "maggie and milly and molly and may," is a more introspective and melancholic setting of cummings' poem about four girls at the beach. The final movement, "who knows if the moon's," is a mystical and ethereal setting of cummings' poem about the moon and the sea. Whitacre's characteristic use of dense harmonies and intricate rhythms is on full display in "Little Birds." The piece is also notable for its use of extended vocal techniques, such as whispering, humming, and singing without vibrato. These techniques are used to create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability in the music. Overall, "Little Birds" is a beautiful and evocative work that showcases Whitacre's skill as a composer and his ability to create deeply emotional and expressive music.

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