Gustav Holst
Songs (6), Op. 16, H. 69
Works Info
Composer:Gustav HolstGenre:VocalStyle:Vocal MusicCompose Date:1903 - 1904Average_duration:13:15Movement_count:6Movement ....Gustav Holst's 'Songs (6), Op. 16, H. 69' is a collection of six songs composed between 1906 and 1907. The songs were premiered in 1908 at the Aeolian Hall in London. The collection is written for voice and piano and features texts by various poets, including Robert Bridges, Thomas Hardy, and Holst's own daughter, Imogen Holst. The first song, 'Jesu Sweet', is a setting of a poem by Robert Bridges. It is a gentle and contemplative piece, with a simple melody and delicate piano accompaniment. The second song, 'The Sorrow of Love', is a more dramatic piece, with a soaring vocal line and a turbulent piano accompaniment. The text, by W.B. Yeats, explores the pain of unrequited love. The third song, 'The Autumn is Old', is a setting of a poem by Ernest Dowson. It is a melancholy piece, with a haunting melody and a sparse piano accompaniment. The fourth song, 'Before Sleep', is a setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti. It is a gentle and soothing piece, with a lullaby-like melody and a flowing piano accompaniment. The fifth song, 'Dream Tryst', is a setting of a poem by Thomas Hardy. It is a romantic and dreamy piece, with a soaring vocal line and a lush piano accompaniment. The final song, 'The Heart Worships', is a setting of a poem by Imogen Holst. It is a joyful and celebratory piece, with a lively melody and a playful piano accompaniment. Overall, 'Songs (6), Op. 16, H. 69' is a diverse collection of songs that showcases Holst's skill as a composer. The songs range from gentle and contemplative to dramatic and soaring, and feature a variety of texts and moods. The collection is a testament to Holst's ability to create beautiful and expressive music for voice and piano.More....