Composer

:

Percy Grainger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Apr 22, 1908 - Aug 14, 1908

Publication Date

:

1982

Average_duration

:

3:40

Bold William Taylor is a folk song arranged by Percy Grainger for mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano. The song is based on a traditional English ballad that tells the story of a sailor named William Taylor who is betrayed by his lover and left to drown at sea. Grainger's arrangement of the song was composed in 1905 and premiered in London the same year. The song is divided into three movements, each of which tells a different part of the story. The first movement, marked "With great expression," introduces the character of William Taylor and his lover. The melody is slow and mournful, with the piano providing a simple accompaniment that emphasizes the emotional weight of the lyrics. The second movement, marked "With great energy," is more upbeat and lively. It describes the moment when Taylor's lover betrays him and leaves him to drown. The melody is fast and frenzied, with the piano providing a driving rhythm that captures the sense of urgency and desperation in the lyrics. The final movement, marked "With great expression," returns to the mournful tone of the first movement. It describes the aftermath of Taylor's death, with his lover mourning his loss and regretting her betrayal. The melody is slow and sorrowful, with the piano providing a gentle accompaniment that emphasizes the sense of loss and regret in the lyrics. Overall, Bold William Taylor is a powerful and emotional piece of music that captures the tragedy and heartbreak of the traditional English ballad on which it is based. Grainger's arrangement is masterful, using simple melodies and accompaniments to create a sense of depth and complexity that belies its apparent simplicity.

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