The Window (song cycle)

The Window is a song cycle composed by the American composer Ned Rorem in 1958. It sets twenty-two poems by various authors, including Theodore Roethke, W.H. Auden, Paul Goodman, Howard Moss, and Kenneth Koch. The poems explore themes of love, loss, memory, and the passage of time.

Rorem originally conceived The Window as a collection of individual songs, but later organized them into a cycle for performance. The cycle is notable for its brevity and the contrasting moods and styles of its constituent songs. Some songs are lyrical and introspective, while others are more dramatic and declamatory. The piano accompaniment plays a significant role, often mirroring and enhancing the emotional content of the vocal line.

The cycle is generally performed by a solo singer (typically a baritone or mezzo-soprano) and a pianist. It is considered to be one of Rorem's most significant contributions to the song cycle repertoire and has been performed and recorded by many prominent artists.

While there is no overarching narrative, recurring motifs and musical themes provide a sense of unity to the cycle as a whole. The order of the poems is carefully chosen to create a cohesive and emotionally engaging listening experience. The Window is esteemed for its musicality, its sensitivity to the nuances of the poetry, and its exploration of universal human experiences.