Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1954 - 1958

Average_duration

:

2:13

Ralph Vaughan Williams composed "Tired" in 1919, and it premiered in the same year. The piece is a part of his song cycle "Four Poems by Fredegond Shove," which consists of four songs for voice and piano. The cycle was written during a period of great personal turmoil for Vaughan Williams, as he was dealing with the aftermath of World War I and the death of several close friends. "Tired" is the third song in the cycle and is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood. The text, written by Fredegond Shove, describes a person who is exhausted and worn out from the struggles of life. The music reflects this sentiment, with a slow and mournful melody that is accompanied by a simple and repetitive piano accompaniment. The song is in the key of F minor and is written in a simple ABA form. The first section features a descending melody that emphasizes the weariness of the text, while the middle section provides a brief respite with a more hopeful melody in the relative major key. The final section returns to the original melody, but with a slight variation that adds a sense of finality and resignation. Overall, "Tired" is a poignant and introspective work that reflects the emotional turmoil of its composer. Its simple yet effective melody and accompaniment make it a powerful expression of the human experience of exhaustion and weariness.

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