Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1953

Average_duration

:

21:47

Movement_count

:

8

Movement ....

Winter Words, Op. 52 is a song cycle composed by Benjamin Britten in 1953. The cycle consists of eight songs, each based on a poem by Thomas Hardy. The premiere of the cycle was given by tenor Peter Pears and Britten himself on piano at the Aldeburgh Festival in June 1953. The eight songs in the cycle are: "At Day-close in November", "Midnight on the Great Western", "Wagtail and Baby", "The Little Old Table", "The Choirmaster's Burial", "Proud Songsters", "At the Railway Station, Upway", and "Before Life and After". The poems are all taken from Hardy's collection of poetry entitled "Winter Words in Various Moods and Metres". The cycle is characterized by Britten's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which reflect the melancholic and introspective nature of Hardy's poetry. The songs are also notable for their use of vocal techniques, such as sprechgesang (a style of singing that is closer to speaking than singing) and falsetto. The first song, "At Day-close in November", sets the tone for the cycle with its somber and introspective mood. The second song, "Midnight on the Great Western", is a more lively and rhythmic piece, with a train-like rhythm that reflects the poem's subject matter. "Wagtail and Baby" is a delicate and tender song, while "The Little Old Table" is a more playful and whimsical piece. "The Choirmaster's Burial" is one of the most dramatic songs in the cycle, with its use of sprechgesang and dissonant harmonies. "Proud Songsters" is a more upbeat and celebratory piece, while "At the Railway Station, Upway" is a more nostalgic and wistful song. The final song, "Before Life and After", is a haunting and introspective piece that brings the cycle to a close. Overall, Winter Words, Op. 52 is a powerful and evocative song cycle that showcases Britten's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the mood and tone of Hardy's poetry.

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