Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

before 1792

Average_duration

:

1:55

'Woo'd and married and a', H. 31a/38' is a vocal work composed by Franz Joseph Haydn. The piece was composed in 1782 and premiered in the same year in Vienna. It is a song cycle consisting of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Anne Hunter. The first movement, 'The Mermaid's Song', is a lively and playful piece in which the mermaid sings of her desire to woo and marry a human. The second movement, 'Sailor's Song', is a more melancholic piece in which a sailor laments the loss of his love. The third movement, 'She never told her love', is a gentle and introspective piece in which a woman reflects on her unrequited love. The fourth movement, 'Fidelity', is a lively and upbeat piece in which a woman sings of her devotion to her lover. The fifth movement, 'The Spirit's Song', is a haunting and ethereal piece in which a spirit sings of the transience of life. The final movement, 'The Wanderer', is a reflective and melancholic piece in which a wanderer reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The characteristics of 'Woo'd and married and a', H. 31a/38' are typical of Haydn's vocal works. The piece is characterized by its lyrical melodies, elegant harmonies, and expressive use of text. Haydn's skillful use of word painting is evident throughout the piece, with the music closely mirroring the emotions and imagery of the poems. Overall, 'Woo'd and married and a', H. 31a/38' is a beautiful and poignant song cycle that showcases Haydn's mastery of vocal music. Its timeless themes of love, loss, and mortality continue to resonate with audiences today.

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