description Water Night (Whitacre) Overview
Water Night is an a cappella choral composition by American composer Eric Whitacre, written in the mid-1990s. It sets an English translation of a poem by Mexican writer and Nobel laureate Octavio Paz, using closely spaced harmonies, sustained sonorities, and shifting vocal textures for mixed choir. The piece became an early widely performed example of Whitacre's choral style and is sung by advanced school, university, community, and professional ensembles.
help Water Night (Whitacre) FAQ
What poem did Eric Whitacre use for his choral work Water Night?
Whitacre set the work to an English translation of a poem by Mexican writer and Nobel laureate Octavio Paz. The poem shares the exact same title, "Water Night."
When was Eric Whitacre's Water Night composed?
The a cappella choral composition was written in the mid-1990s. It remains one of Whitacre's most famous and widely performed early works.
What musical techniques make Water Night distinctive?
The piece is heavily characterized by closely spaced harmonies, sustained sonorities, and shifting vocal textures. These techniques create a lush, suspending, and dissonant soundscape.
Is Water Night performed a cappella or with instruments?
Water Night is written strictly as an a cappella choral composition. The complex, dissonant chords are designed to be performed entirely by human voices without instrumental backing.
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