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Hoiby is best known for his opera Summer and Smoke (based on Tennessee Williams), but his song cycles are considered masterpieces. (often subtitled "A Dramatic Scene for Soprano or Tenor and Piano") was composed in 1978. It represents Hoiby at his most intense: a setting of a text that blends biblical imagery with psychological terror.
"The Serpent" is a humorous art song composed by in 1979, with lyrics taken from a poem by Theodore Roethke . It was originally written for the legendary soprano Leontyne Price as part of a set titled Songs for Leontyne sybariticsinger.com Full Text of the Poem the serpent lee hoiby pdf
: The score includes specific text painting, such as bird-like musical figures (measures 72–73) and deep, "tuba-like" sounds (measures 113–116) to evoke Roethke's imagery. Performance Context
Originally written for the legendary soprano , "The Serpent" tells the humorous story of a snake who abandons his "Kind of Life" to pursue a singing career. Despite the birds' attempts to discourage him with various instruments like drums and tubas, the serpent remains committed, eventually emitting a "Horrible Note" that sends the forest inhabitants fleeing. Composer: Lee Hoiby (1926–2011) Poet: Theodore Roethke (1908–1963) Don’t despair
Lee Hoiby’s (1979) is one of the most celebrated comedic art songs in the American vocal repertoire. This whimsical piece, which sets poetry by Theodore Roethke , is widely admired for its witty characterization and technical challenges for both singer and pianist. Overview of "The Serpent"
Avoid illegal scan-sharing sites. They are often missing pages (the 1978 edition has a critical page turn that is often scanned badly), and they rob the Hoiby estate of royalties. (often subtitled "A Dramatic Scene for Soprano or
The piano part is demanding, featuring a perpetual eighth-note motion that evokes the nervous energy of the forest birds.