Basner V. 5 Poems to the Verses by M. Yu. Lermontov. Vocal cycle for basso and piano

The vocal cycle Five Poems by M. Yu. Lermontov was composed by V. Basner for basso and piano. The whole work dates 1978, consisting of five vocal monologues: «Caucases», «Evening Shot», «Slumber», «Testament» and «Motherland».

The miniatures themselves are not connected by mere narration. This is the romantic nature inherent to Lermontov’s perception of the world. Meanwhile, the poems reveal their author’s belief in love as the only remedy for disappointment and despair, the only bracing liquid nectar for bitter taste left by troubles.

Songful nature is the main peculiarity of the Russian vocal music. These lyrical romantic utterances are not the exception. Even declamatory excerpts are drawn to cantilena. The other feature of the Romanticism is its resort to local national culture. Basner adheres to this auxiliary device in «Slumber». The verses are impregnated with the intonations of Basner’s music.

Thus the poetry and sounds come welded together. Cordial candour and ingenuousness, instilled by Basner, stain Lermontov’s spirit with the composer’s perceptive moods. Veniamin Basner seems to confess about the contemporaneity, about himself by means of these monologues.

Contents:

CAUCASUS (Music text example)
EVENING SHOT
SLUMBER
TESTAMENT (Music text example)
MOTHERLAND