Composer

:

Charles Ives

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1934

Publication Date

:

1964

First Performance

:

Apr 18, 1966

Average_duration

:

5:25

"General William Booth Enters into Heaven" is a choral work composed by Charles Ives in 1914. The piece is based on a poem by Vachel Lindsay, which tells the story of the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, as he enters heaven. The work is scored for four-part choir, solo baritone, and piano. The piece premiered in 1914 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, with Ives conducting. The performance was a great success, and the piece has since become one of Ives' most popular choral works. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement, "General Booth Enters into Heaven," is a powerful and dramatic setting of the poem's opening lines. The choir sings in unison, with the solo baritone providing a counterpoint to the choral melody. The piano provides a driving accompaniment, with frequent changes in tempo and dynamics. The second movement, "The Salvation Army Lassies," is a more lighthearted and playful setting of the poem's middle section. The choir sings in a more relaxed and jovial manner, with the solo baritone taking on a more conversational role. The piano provides a bouncy and rhythmic accompaniment, with frequent syncopations and unexpected chord changes. The final movement, "The New Birth," is a triumphant and exultant setting of the poem's conclusion. The choir sings in a full and rich harmony, with the solo baritone soaring above the choral texture. The piano provides a grand and majestic accompaniment, with frequent use of arpeggios and octave leaps. Overall, "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Ives' unique style and innovative approach to choral composition. The piece is characterized by its use of complex harmonies, unconventional rhythms, and dramatic contrasts in tempo and dynamics. It remains a beloved and frequently performed work in the choral repertoire.

More....