Le Dorrneur du Val
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2014
Location
Young Main Lounge, Memorial Student Center, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-20-2013 12:15 PM
End Date
4-20-2013 2:00 PM
Disciplines
Music
Abstract
This composition, Le Dorrneur du Val, is a setting of a French poem (of the same name) by Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud. The title can be literally translated as "The Sleeper of the Valley," or sometimes poetically as "Asleep in the Valley." Le Dorrneur du Val is the first piece I completed for a choral ensemble, and consequently my first attempt at setting a text to music. My goal in this endeavor was to portray as accurately as possible the meaning of the words through the accompanying music. To this effect, I employed various methods of text painting throughout the composition. For example, the rising lines which accompany the description of the sun shining on the mountain, the military rhythm in the bass when the soldier is introduced, and the "rocking" motion when the poem speaks of cradling with warmth. Sadly, most of these instances are only truly effective if one understands the words which are being sung - something which I hope can be understood if one follows along with the words as the piece is sung.
Le Dorrneur du Val
Young Main Lounge, Memorial Student Center, Illinois Wesleyan University
This composition, Le Dorrneur du Val, is a setting of a French poem (of the same name) by Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud. The title can be literally translated as "The Sleeper of the Valley," or sometimes poetically as "Asleep in the Valley." Le Dorrneur du Val is the first piece I completed for a choral ensemble, and consequently my first attempt at setting a text to music. My goal in this endeavor was to portray as accurately as possible the meaning of the words through the accompanying music. To this effect, I employed various methods of text painting throughout the composition. For example, the rising lines which accompany the description of the sun shining on the mountain, the military rhythm in the bass when the soldier is introduced, and the "rocking" motion when the poem speaks of cradling with warmth. Sadly, most of these instances are only truly effective if one understands the words which are being sung - something which I hope can be understood if one follows along with the words as the piece is sung.