Composer

:

Edward Elgar

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1909 - 1910

Average_duration

:

7:03

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Edward Elgar's Song Cycle, Op. 59, is a collection of six songs for voice and piano, composed between 1909 and 1910. The cycle was premiered on October 27, 1910, at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Elgar accompanying the singer, Muriel Foster. The six songs in the cycle are: 1. "Prologue" - This song sets the tone for the cycle, with a melancholic melody and lyrics that speak of the transience of life. 2. "O Soft was the Song" - This song is a setting of a poem by the 19th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns. The melody is gentle and flowing, with a sense of longing in the lyrics. 3. "The Tame Swan" - This song is a setting of a poem by the English poet Walter de la Mare. The melody is haunting and ethereal, with a sense of mystery in the lyrics. 4. "The Prince of Sleep" - This song is a setting of a poem by the English poet Francis Thompson. The melody is dreamy and atmospheric, with a sense of wonder in the lyrics. 5. "The Sea Organ" - This song is a setting of a poem by the English poet Alice Meynell. The melody is lively and playful, with a sense of joy in the lyrics. 6. "In Haven" - This song is a setting of a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. The melody is serene and peaceful, with a sense of acceptance in the lyrics. The characteristics of Elgar's Song Cycle, Op. 59, are typical of his style, with lush harmonies, expressive melodies, and a sense of nostalgia and longing. The cycle is notable for its use of poetry by a variety of English and Scottish poets, and for its exploration of themes such as nature, love, and mortality. Overall, Elgar's Song Cycle, Op. 59, is a beautiful and poignant collection of songs that showcases the composer's skill as a songwriter and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience through music.

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