Product Description
"Cradle Song" for SATB Choir and Piano
Words by: William Blake
Music by: Russell Ronnebaum
About the piece:
William Blakes serene language inspired this
dramatic setting of his poem "Cradle Song". The piece opens with a constantly
descending scale as a mother sings to her sleeping child. As more voices are layered in, the texture
becomes increasingly lush, but still soothing.
The third stanza of text is marked with peaceful
harp-like figures (as thy softest limbs I
feel) while the voices take over the calming decent into deeper, more
peaceful sleep. The mothers concern
suddenly changes as the descending scale transforms and (the cunning wiles that creep) set in.
Anticipation of escaping the terror of potential nightmares
escalates as the ascending textures grow more tense and dissonant. The tension finally peaks with a breathless
silence before resolving with (then the
dreadful night shall break).
The final phrase of the piece is a slightly
transformed iteration of the opening vocal phrase and is a subtle nod to
Johannes Brahms "Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, Gute Nacht", more commonly
known as Brahms "Lullaby".
"Cradle Song" was commissioned by Rincon/University High School Concert Choir in Tucson, Arizona; Directed by Mareena Boosamra.
www.RRonnebaum.com
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