Academic journal article Journal of Singing
Four Walt Whitman Songs
Article excerpt
WEILL, KURT (1900-1950). FOUR WALT WHITMAN SONGS for Voice and Piano. Versions for high and low voice in the same volume. European American Music Corporation, 2013 (Hal Leonard Corporation).
I. "Beat! Beat! Drums!" Minor tonalities; E^sub 3^-F^sub 4^/F#^sub 3^-G^sub 4^; Tess: M-mH; 4/4, Moderato assai (not fast, in strong unchanging rhythm); V/M-mD, P/ mD; 6 pages.
II. "O Captain! My Captain!" F major; B[musical flat]^sub 3^-F^sub 4^/C^sub 3^-G^sub 4^; Tess: CR; 4/4, Moderato quasi andantino; V/M, P/M; 7 pages.
III. "Come Up from the Fields, Father." Major tonalities; D^sub 3^-F^sub 4^/E^sub 3^-G^sub 4^; Tess: M; 4/4, 3/4, 9/8, Agitato; V/M, P/M-mD; 10 pages.
IV. "Dirge for Two Veterans." G major; C^sub 3^-G^sub 4^/D^sub 3^-A^sub 4^; Tess: M-mH; 4/4, Andante non troppo; V/M, P/M-mD; 6 pages.
German composer Kurt Weill, already well established as a mu- sic theater composer, emigrated to the United States in 1935. His collaboration with various playwrights in Hollywood began his career in America, where he became well known for his highly original scores for the music theater stage. In 1941, Weill confided to Ira Gershwin that he wanted to compose "a book of songs (not popular songs but 'Lieder') for concert singers" (Foreword). After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he chose five poems of Walt Whitman for possible settings. The first was "O Captain! …