The evocative, Romantic imagery of Keats’ sonnet “On the Sea” informs the sound world and structure of this setting for five male voices. The work takes the shape of an isorhythmic motet with a tenor that is proportionally compressed as the piece develops. Several devices derivative of fifteenth-century Franco-Flemish practice, such as gematriaand solmization, are employed throughout the setting in a structural role. Over the course of the work, the cantus is incorporated more and more into the four-voice texture, culminating at the end in full, five-voice homophony.
On the Sea
- Year
- 2014
- Duration
- 5'
- Instrumentation
- Five Male Voices
- Category
- Vocal
Text Source
- John Keats , "On the Sea" (The Champion) © 1817, public domain
Performance History
-
Reading
Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University, Durham, NCAmarcord — Wolfram Lattke – tenor I Daniel Knauft – tenor II Frank Ozimek – baritone Robert Pohlers – bass I Holger Krause – bass II