Here's something you might be interested in.
On some days, Walt Whitman is my favorite poet. I'm not a literary critic so all I can truly say is that I like him.
The British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams also liked Whitman.
Vaughan Williams used Whitman's poetry in several of his compositions.
"A Sea Symphony", "Toward the Unknown Region", and "Dona Nobis Pacem" all use Whitman's poetry.
The Dona Nobis Pacem, Give us Peace, is a unique piece of music. Written during the 1930's it is a precursor to Britten's War Requiem.
Vaughan Williams uses text from Whitman's poetry, The Bible and John Bright's "Angel of Death" speech to compose what is something of an oratorio.
Whitman spent three years of his life nursing the veterans of the Civil War. The sight of amputated limbs destroyed his ideal of the soul existing in the body.
Vaughan Williams was a veteran of the first World War and composed his Dona Nobis Pacem as a plea for peace.
The section, "A Dirge for Two Veterans" sets Whitman's poetry to a stunning death march for chorus and orchestra.
I have included the text below the link.
With Veteran's day recently passed, we can say with Uncle Walt,
"And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Jl4dqoESs
The last sunbeam Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath, On the pavement here, and there beyond it is looking, Down a new-made double grave.
Lo, the moon ascending, Up from the east the silvery round moon, Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon, Immense and silent moon.
I see a sad procession, And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles, All the channels of the city streets they are flooding, As with voices and with tears.
I hear the great drums pounding, And the small drums steady whirring And every blow of the great convulsive drums, Strikes me through and through.
For the son is brought with the father, (In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell, Two veterans son and father dropt together, And the double grave awaits them.)
And nearer blow the bugles, And the drums strike more convulsive, And the daylight o'er the pavement quite has faded, And the strong dead-march enwraps me.
In the eastern sky up-buoying, The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd, ('Tis some mother's large transparent face, In heaven brighter growing.)
O strong dead-march you please me! O moon immense with your silvery face you soothe me! O my soldiers twain! O my veterans passing to burial! What I have I also give you.
The moon gives you light, And the bugles and the drums give you music, And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love.
On some days, Walt Whitman is my favorite poet. I'm not a literary critic so all I can truly say is that I like him.
The British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams also liked Whitman.
Vaughan Williams used Whitman's poetry in several of his compositions.
"A Sea Symphony", "Toward the Unknown Region", and "Dona Nobis Pacem" all use Whitman's poetry.
The Dona Nobis Pacem, Give us Peace, is a unique piece of music. Written during the 1930's it is a precursor to Britten's War Requiem.
Vaughan Williams uses text from Whitman's poetry, The Bible and John Bright's "Angel of Death" speech to compose what is something of an oratorio.
Whitman spent three years of his life nursing the veterans of the Civil War. The sight of amputated limbs destroyed his ideal of the soul existing in the body.
Vaughan Williams was a veteran of the first World War and composed his Dona Nobis Pacem as a plea for peace.
The section, "A Dirge for Two Veterans" sets Whitman's poetry to a stunning death march for chorus and orchestra.
I have included the text below the link.
With Veteran's day recently passed, we can say with Uncle Walt,
"And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Jl4dqoESs
The last sunbeam Lightly falls from the finish'd Sabbath, On the pavement here, and there beyond it is looking, Down a new-made double grave.
Lo, the moon ascending, Up from the east the silvery round moon, Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon, Immense and silent moon.
I see a sad procession, And I hear the sound of coming full-key'd bugles, All the channels of the city streets they are flooding, As with voices and with tears.
I hear the great drums pounding, And the small drums steady whirring And every blow of the great convulsive drums, Strikes me through and through.
For the son is brought with the father, (In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell, Two veterans son and father dropt together, And the double grave awaits them.)
And nearer blow the bugles, And the drums strike more convulsive, And the daylight o'er the pavement quite has faded, And the strong dead-march enwraps me.
In the eastern sky up-buoying, The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin'd, ('Tis some mother's large transparent face, In heaven brighter growing.)
O strong dead-march you please me! O moon immense with your silvery face you soothe me! O my soldiers twain! O my veterans passing to burial! What I have I also give you.
The moon gives you light, And the bugles and the drums give you music, And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans, My heart gives you love.