
The Lark as an Unexpected Romance
Mikhail Glinka’s “The Lark” exceeds the definition of a Romantic era composition. It is not defined by harmonies or styles, but rather by the symbolism of a skylark––a free, untamed creature that glides the pastel blue skies and sings through an arbitrary adventure. As you look on and listen to the birdsongs, you will begin to notice the strange romanticism within its freedom. A skylark yearns to sing and be untamed, much as a soul yearns to love. Within my rendition of Glinka’s work, you can visualize a lark soaring over treetops and singing its melodies, just as you can imagine a person’s soul journeying and singing the songs of love.
As the piece opens, you can hear the lark’s melody through call and response. The first eight notes mark the start of the lark’s song, and the following phrase marks the echo and lingering reminiscence. While the piece goes on, the same melody is used interchangeably and builds up to a major climactic point, painting the lark’s “arbitrary adventure” with musical colors. This climatic point simultaneously represents the moment where a soul initially finds the love it was searching for. Following this defining moment, the lark, and therefore the soul, enter a delicate and serene atmosphere, eventually ending the piece with a gentle recapitulation of the earlier call and response. As you listen to the piece fade away through the calm melodic phrases, you can make out the lark’s adventure and the mirrored journey of the soul for love.
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The picture that I chose to use is rather simple, but is one that represents my own vision. I have stood beneath treelines looking up at an open blue sky, admiring the birds’ free, versatile maneuvers. As I play, these mental images I have captured play through my mind like a film––Glinka’s masterful work as its accompanying soundtrack.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis is a beautiful piece and I think you’ve conveyed the emotion of it really well. I enjoyed the tempo and could picture the larks in my mind’s eye as you’ve described them. I enjoyed listening to this.
Hi, thank you so much! It means a lot.
Everything you described in your Intro is mirrored in your music, Alex. The lark’s romantic journey so beautifully expressed. I could listen to this piece over and over. Magical!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThis means a lot––thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it.
I really like how you created a beautiful melody with just the right tempo and dynamics. Great job!
Thank you! I am glad that you enjoyed this rendition!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWow! Alex! That was an awesome performance. The melody was gentle. And it travels down directly to my heart. Lovely!
Thank you! This is one of my favorite melodies. I believe it must be played delicately and romantically at the same time.
You’re welcome, Alex.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleCongrats, Alex.
I love how you speak of the lark and the soul as though they were one. Your writing is very poetic.
Thank You! I really enjoyed combining writing and music. I am glad you enjoyed it as well!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou have a way with words as well as music, Alex. It made the whole piece very visual for me. Beautifully played
That was my goal! I am very happy that you were able to visualize it. Thank you!
This is such an interesting piece. Lovely performance!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you so much! It means a lot.
Thank you for the beautiful music that you blessed our ears with, and the journey that you took us on. You played with such passion and truly told a story through the keys that I was hanging on to by every note. Beautiful playing, beautiful performance, and beautiful story telling! Bravo!
Thank you so much! I really enjoyed putting this together, and I am glad that this joy was reciprocated!
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