Charles Edward Ives (October 20, 1874 – May 19, 1954) was an American compo… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Edward Ives (October 20, 1874 – May 19, 1954) was an American composer of classical music. He is widely regarded as one of the first American classical composers of international significance. Ives's music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Over time, Ives would come to be regarded as one of the "American Originals", a composer working in a uniquely American style, with American tunes woven through his music, and a reaching sense of the possibilities in music.
The Unanswered Question
Charles Ives Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Charles Ives:
Slow March One evening just at sunset We laid him in the grave Although…
West London Crouch′d on the pavement, Close by Belgrave Square. A tramp!…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@joaquinsterman3754
Words by Charles Ives:
"Foreword
The parts of the flute quartet may be taken by two flutes, upper staff, oboe and clarinet, lower staff. The trumpet part may be played by an English horn, an oboe or clarinet, if not playing in "The Answers." The string quartet or string orchestra (con sordini), if possible, should be "off stage", or away from the trumpet and flutes. The trumpet should use a mute unless playing in a very large room, or with a larger string orchestra. If more than four strings, a basso may play with the 'cellos (8va basso). The strings play ppp throughout with no change in tempo. They are to represent "The Silences of the Druids - Who Know, See and Hear Nothing." The trumpet intones "The Perennial Question of Existence", and states it in the same tone of voice each time. But the hunt for "The Invisible Answer" undertaken by the flutes and other human beings, becomes gradually more active, faster and louder through an animando to a con fuoco. This part need not be played in the exact time position indicated. It is played in somewhat of an impromptu way; if there be no conductor, one of the flute players may direct their playing. "The Fighting Answerers", as the time goes on, and after a "secret con- ference", seem to realize a futility, and begin to mock "The Question" - the strife is over for the moment. After they disappear, "The Question" is asked for the last time, and "The Silences" are heard beyond in "Undisturbed Solitude." The flutes will end their part approximately near the position indicated in the string score; but in any case, "The Last Question" should not be played by the trumpet until "The Silences" of the strings in the distance have been heard for a measure or two. The strings will continue their last chord for two measures or so after the trumpet stops. If the strings shall have reached their last chord before the trumpet plays "The Last Question", they will hold it through an continue after, as suggested above. During some of the louder passages of the flutes, the strings may not be heard, and it is not important that they should be. "The Answers" may be played somewhat sooner after each "Question" than indicated in the score, but "The Question" should be played no sooner for that reason. If a large string orchestra is playing, the full treble woodwind choir may be used at the discretion of the conductor, but in any case, only one trumpet plays.
C. E. I."
Source: https://petruccimusiclibrary.ca/files/imglnks/caimg/8/89/IMSLP05327-Charles_Ives_-_The_Unanswered_Question.pdf
@Waterwave37
In my ear training class, our teacher showed us this song while we were studying chromatic/ Atonal harmony/melody.
He told us: the (tonal) stings represent silence(the silence of the universe perhaps), especially because they lack dominant harmony. The solo (semi-tonal) trumpet represents the question(what is the meaning of life?) and its dominant/ diminished melody represents that the question is loud within the silence. The (Atonal) flutes represent the experts, trying to answer the question, getting more and more frustrated and descending into chaos.
The whole concepts is GENIUS honestly
@Waterwave37
thanks for the unnecessary correction.
@brandonsanchezrojas
I'm pretty sure this a song. Don't worry I appreciate ur comment.
@Bati_
It’s incredible! Thank you for sharing this amazing insight! I cannot have valuable lessons like these because I’m not a music student. Do you think can I learn these and theory with in-depth insights by self-studying? Can you recommend me some materials, sources on that? Thanks a lot! Respect and peace! Greetings from Turkey!
@christopherthorkon3997
Thanks for your observations. It is not a song, of course (no one is singing). But it is a piece.
@christopherthorkon3997
@DerSibbe It always irritates me. I blame, I think, the iPod and other digital recording/playing devices, which decided to call every single recorded piece a "song". I think it was this digital age laziness that changed our use of the word so now people will call anything a "song" -- including tone poems, symphonies, concertos, and film scores. It really grates on me when people call everything a "song." It's kind of like calling every written piece a "novel" -- letters, text messages, addresses, speeches, plays, scripts all become "novels." Ridiculous.
@pipeno
Some years ago, my father introduced me to this fantastic piece of music . Now he has been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt Jakob a very lethal and sporadic type of dementia. He has become delusional, completely aphasic at times. Yesterday, in another bittersweet moment, we sat on a nearby park, watching the kids play and i questioned him "¿is there any meaning to this?" He just smiled and kept silent. This song just came to my mind.
@roblasel
The story of your father just really touched me, pipeno.
What i find very special about the piece is, that the calm and simple sting part is actually the most disturbing one.
Do you know Schuberts string quintett? - especially the 2nd movement. It contains also an unanswered question, maybe even the same question.
@riversandstones1644
The lyrics of this song always get me too
@andrewpetersen5272
Have you played it for him lately?