Composer

:

Ivor Gurney

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1918

Average_duration

:

1:45

"On the Downs" is a song cycle composed by Ivor Gurney in 1920. The premiere of the piece was in 1922, performed by the tenor John Coates and the composer himself on the piano. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Gurney himself. The first movement, "On the Downs," sets the scene with a gentle, flowing melody that evokes the rolling hills and open skies of the English countryside. The second movement, "The Old Song," is a nostalgic reflection on the passing of time, with a haunting melody that lingers in the mind long after the song has ended. The third movement, "The Fields are Full," is a celebration of the abundance of nature, with a lively, energetic melody that captures the joy and vitality of the natural world. The fourth movement, "The Far Country," is a wistful meditation on the unknown and the unknowable, with a haunting melody that suggests the mystery and beauty of the world beyond our understanding. The fifth movement, "The Night," is a dark and brooding piece that captures the eerie stillness of the night, with a slow, mournful melody that suggests the loneliness and isolation of the human soul. The final movement, "The Sea," is a majestic and powerful piece that captures the vastness and grandeur of the ocean, with a sweeping melody that suggests the endless possibilities and infinite potential of the natural world. Throughout the cycle, Gurney's music is characterized by its lyricism, its sensitivity to the natural world, and its deep emotional resonance. The melodies are simple and direct, yet full of nuance and subtlety, and the harmonies are rich and complex, yet always in service of the melody. Overall, "On the Downs" is a beautiful and moving work that captures the essence of Gurney's unique artistic vision.

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