Composer

:

Nicholas Lanier

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:41

'Love's Constancy' is a vocal work composed by Nicholas Lanier, an English composer and musician who lived from 1588 to 1666. The piece was likely composed in the early 17th century, although the exact date is unknown. It was first performed at the court of King Charles I, where Lanier served as the Master of the King's Music. 'Love's Constancy' is a song cycle consisting of five movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by the English poet and courtier Sir John Suckling. The poems explore the theme of love and its various manifestations, from the joy of new love to the pain of unrequited love. The first movement, 'Why so pale and wan, fond lover?', is a lively and playful setting of a poem that mocks the lovelorn poet for his melancholy. The second movement, 'Out upon it, I have loved', is a more somber and introspective piece that reflects on the pain of lost love. The third movement, 'Love's Constancy', is the centerpiece of the cycle. It is a beautiful and tender setting of a poem that celebrates the constancy of love, even in the face of adversity. The fourth movement, 'Love, a child, is ever crying', is a lively and playful piece that compares love to a mischievous child. The final movement, 'Why so dull and mute, young sinner?', is a reflective and melancholy piece that explores the pain of unrequited love. It ends the cycle on a somber note, leaving the listener with a sense of the complexity and depth of the emotions that love can inspire. Overall, 'Love's Constancy' is a beautiful and moving work that showcases Lanier's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the nuances of human emotion in music. Its themes of love and constancy are timeless and universal, making it a work that continues to resonate with audiences today.

More....