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Measures Of Affection: Five Musical Love Letters

Composer Peter Lieberson wrote his <em>Neruda Songs</em> for his wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.
Johansen Krause
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Peter Lieberson
Composer Peter Lieberson wrote his Neruda Songs for his wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

If you've ever written a love letter, you know it's not easy. Amid a swirl of emotions, balancing elegant language and hormone-fueled passion can be tricky. Composers for centuries have skirted this problem by doing what comes naturally — writing their love letters in the language of music. Here are five passionate outpourings in melody and harmony.

Do you have a favorite musical love letter? Have you ever written one? How was it received? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Tom Huizenga is a music producer for NPR Digital Media.
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