Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Fantasy

Compose Date

:

1961

Average_duration

:

0:59

"Fancie: Tell me where is fancy bred" is a song composed by Benjamin Britten in 1941. It was premiered on 10th June 1941 at the Wigmore Hall in London, with Britten himself accompanying the singer, Peter Pears, on the piano. The song is part of a collection of six songs called "The Second Lute Song of the Earl of Essex," which Britten composed for Pears. The song is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is marked "Allegretto con slancio" and is characterized by a lively, playful melody. The second movement, marked "Andante con moto," is more introspective and melancholic, with a slower tempo and a more somber tone. The final movement, marked "Allegro vivace," returns to the lively, playful character of the first movement, with a faster tempo and a more energetic melody. The lyrics of the song are taken from Act III, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice." The song is a dialogue between two characters, the Prince of Morocco and Portia, in which the Prince asks Portia to tell him where "fancy" (i.e. love) is bred. Portia responds that fancy is "engendered in the eyes, / With gazing fed; and fancy dies / In the cradle where it lies." Britten's setting of the text is characterized by his use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The piano accompaniment is also notable for its use of syncopation and irregular rhythms, which add to the playful, whimsical character of the song. Overall, "Fancie: Tell me where is fancy bred" is a charming and whimsical song that showcases Britten's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of Shakespeare's text in his music.

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