Composer

:

Richard Hundley

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

1:35

Richard Hundley's "Sweet Suffolk Owl" is a song cycle composed in 1970. The premiere of the song cycle was in 1971, performed by the composer himself and the soprano Phyllis Curtin. The song cycle consists of five movements, each of which is based on a poem by various poets. The first movement, "Sweet Suffolk Owl," is based on a poem by Thomas Vautor. The movement is characterized by its gentle and flowing melody, which is accompanied by a simple piano accompaniment. The second movement, "When Orpheus Played," is based on a poem by Robert Herrick. The movement is characterized by its lively and playful melody, which is accompanied by a more complex piano accompaniment. The third movement, "Come Ready and See Me," is based on a poem by Richard Wilbur. The movement is characterized by its tender and intimate melody, which is accompanied by a delicate piano accompaniment. The fourth movement, "Waterbird," is based on a poem by Stanley Kunitz. The movement is characterized by its haunting and mysterious melody, which is accompanied by a sparse and atmospheric piano accompaniment. The final movement, "Epitaph on a Wife," is based on a poem by Sir John Suckling. The movement is characterized by its mournful and melancholic melody, which is accompanied by a somber piano accompaniment. Overall, "Sweet Suffolk Owl" is a beautiful and evocative song cycle that showcases Hundley's skill as a composer and his ability to set poetry to music in a way that is both sensitive and expressive.

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