Composer

:

Gustav Holst

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1916 - 1917

Average_duration

:

7:46

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Gustav Holst's 'Songs (4), Op. 35, H. 132' is a collection of four songs composed for voice and piano. The songs were composed in 1917 and premiered on May 10, 1918, at the Aeolian Hall in London. The four songs are titled 'Journey's End,' 'In the Bleak Midwinter,' 'I Vow to Thee, My Country,' and 'Before Sleep.' The first song, 'Journey's End,' is a melancholic piece that reflects on the end of a journey. The music is slow and mournful, with a simple piano accompaniment that supports the vocal line. The second song, 'In the Bleak Midwinter,' is a setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti. The music is gentle and reflective, with a delicate piano accompaniment that supports the lyrical melody. The third song, 'I Vow to Thee, My Country,' is perhaps the most well-known of the four. The lyrics were written by Sir Cecil Spring Rice, and the music is a setting of the hymn 'Thaxted.' The music is grand and majestic, with a soaring melody that is supported by a powerful piano accompaniment. The final song, 'Before Sleep,' is a gentle lullaby that is perfect for bedtime. The music is soft and soothing, with a simple piano accompaniment that supports the gentle vocal line. Overall, the 'Songs (4), Op. 35, H. 132' showcase Holst's skill as a composer of vocal music. Each song is unique in its own way, but they all share a common thread of beauty and emotional depth. The music is accessible and easy to listen to, but it also has a depth and complexity that rewards repeated listening.

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