Havergal Brian
Take, O Take Those Lips Away
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Composer:Havergal BrianGenre:VocalStyle:Vocal MusicAverage_duration:1:03"Take, O Take Those Lips Away" is a choral work composed by Havergal Brian in 1908. The piece was premiered in 1909 at the Royal College of Music in London. It is a setting of a text from Shakespeare's play "Measure for Measure." The piece is written for four-part choir and piano accompaniment. It is a short work, with a duration of approximately two minutes. The piece is in a simple ABA form, with the middle section featuring a contrasting melody and texture. The first section of the piece is marked "Andante con moto" and features a gentle, flowing melody in the upper voices. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with simple chords supporting the vocal lines. The second section is marked "Poco più mosso" and features a more lively melody in the lower voices. The piano accompaniment is more active, with arpeggiated chords and a driving rhythm. The final section returns to the opening melody, with the addition of a descant in the soprano voice. Overall, "Take, O Take Those Lips Away" is a simple and charming piece of choral music. It showcases Brian's skill in writing for voices, with a clear and expressive melody that is well-suited to the text. The piece is notable for its use of contrasting textures and dynamics, which add interest and variety to the relatively short work.More....