Composer

:

Hans Werner Henze

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1996

Average_duration

:

13:36

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Hans Werner Henze's "New Folksongs and Herdsmen Songs" is a composition for tenor and guitar, premiered in 1977. The piece consists of six movements, each based on a traditional folk song from various regions of Europe. The first movement, "The Water is Wide," is a Scottish ballad that tells the story of a man who must leave his love behind to seek his fortune. Henze's setting of the song is haunting and melancholic, with the guitar providing a gentle accompaniment to the tenor's mournful melody. The second movement, "The Foggy Dew," is an Irish rebel song that commemorates the Easter Rising of 1916. Henze's arrangement of the song is more subdued than the original, with the guitar providing a delicate counterpoint to the tenor's passionate vocals. The third movement, "The Three Ravens," is an English ballad that tells the story of three ravens who discuss the fate of a slain knight. Henze's setting of the song is eerie and atmospheric, with the guitar providing a sparse, haunting accompaniment to the tenor's narration. The fourth movement, "The False Knight Upon the Road," is a Scottish ballad that tells the story of a knight who tries to seduce a young woman. Henze's arrangement of the song is playful and lighthearted, with the guitar providing a jaunty accompaniment to the tenor's mischievous vocals. The fifth movement, "The Unquiet Grave," is an English ballad that tells the story of a man who visits the grave of his dead lover. Henze's setting of the song is mournful and introspective, with the guitar providing a gentle, mournful accompaniment to the tenor's plaintive vocals. The final movement, "The Herdsmen's Song," is a traditional German folk song that celebrates the joys of rural life. Henze's arrangement of the song is lively and upbeat, with the guitar providing a lively, rhythmic accompaniment to the tenor's exuberant vocals. Overall, "New Folksongs and Herdsmen Songs" is a beautiful and evocative composition that showcases Henze's skill as a composer and arranger. The piece is notable for its use of traditional folk melodies and its sensitive, nuanced treatment of these timeless songs.

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