Composer

:

Amy Beach

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Publication Date

:

1897

Average_duration

:

6:12

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Amy Beach's 'Shakespeare Songs (3), Op. 37' is a collection of three art songs composed for voice and piano. The songs were composed in 1896 and premiered in the same year. The three movements are titled "Take, O Take Those Lips Away," "Fancy's Knell," and "The Willow Song." The first movement, "Take, O Take Those Lips Away," is a setting of a song from Shakespeare's play "Measure for Measure." The song is a plea from a woman to her lover to kiss her before they part. Beach's setting is delicate and lyrical, with a flowing piano accompaniment that supports the vocal line. The song is in the key of F major and has a moderate tempo. The second movement, "Fancy's Knell," is a setting of a poem by John Keats. The poem describes the death of a woman's dreams and hopes, and the music reflects this melancholy mood. The song is in the key of E-flat minor and has a slow tempo. The piano accompaniment is sparse and haunting, with long, sustained chords that create a sense of emptiness. The third movement, "The Willow Song," is a setting of a song from Shakespeare's play "Othello." The song is sung by Desdemona as she prepares for bed, and it foreshadows her tragic fate. Beach's setting is mournful and atmospheric, with a piano accompaniment that evokes the sound of a weeping willow tree. The song is in the key of G minor and has a slow tempo. Overall, the 'Shakespeare Songs (3), Op. 37' showcase Amy Beach's skill as a composer of art songs. The songs are lyrical and expressive, with piano accompaniments that support and enhance the vocal lines. The collection demonstrates Beach's ability to capture the mood and meaning of the texts she sets, and her sensitivity to the nuances of Shakespeare's poetry.

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