Join Us. 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting

Blogs

Classically Speaking

Eclectopia Blog

Want to comment on a blog?

Log In
User Name:
Password:
Remember me next time.

Forgot your Password?

SPONSOR

Goodwill Indistries of Kanwha Valley Inc.

Classically Speaking

Classical music in West Virginia and Beyond

Poe for Guitar: Usher Valse

(News, Commentary) Permanent link

By Aran Jenkins

· January 19, 2011

Edgar Allan Poe

Today marks the 202^nd anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth. In addition to being one of my favorite writers of all time, he also has the credit for writing the first modern detective story, “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” Perhaps Sherlock Holmes would do well to pay tribute!

I'm fascinated that there is one mysterious person, who for decades made a tradition of visiting the grave of Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore and left three roses in a specific pattern with half a bottle of cognac. The tradition has perhaps come to an end; for the second year in a row the mysterious devotee has not appeared or left the signature tribute at the grave.

Nikita Koshkin (born 1956) also thought to pay tribute to Poe, by composing the “Usher Valse.” The piece, written for solo guitar, was based on Poe’s classic short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

Guitar great John Williams playing Koshkin’s stirring “Usher Valse”

This tribute to Poe is another great addition to the tradition of composers drawing from literature for their compositions, which includes Tchaikovsky's “Romeo and Juliet Overture” and Edvard Grieg's music for Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. I'm interested to hear other people's favorite connections between literature and music, and if you know any other good musical tributes to Edgar Allen Poe.

Anitras' Dance from Peer Gynt

In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt

Solveig's Song from Peer Gynt

Aran Jenkins is a recent graduate of WV State University. He plays piano and guitar, writes for the Charleston Gazette, and is working on a novel.

Previous posts by Aran Jenkins: