Composer

:

Roger Quilter

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1946

Average_duration

:

1:37

'Hark! Hark! the Lark' is a song composed by Roger Quilter, an English composer of the early 20th century. The song was composed in 1922 and premiered in the same year. It is a part of his song cycle 'To Julia', which is based on the poems of Robert Herrick. The song has a single movement and is written for a solo voice and piano. The piano accompaniment is light and delicate, with a flowing melody that mimics the flight of a lark. The vocal line is equally light and airy, with a range that spans from low to high notes. The song is characterized by its simplicity and elegance, with a melody that is easy to follow and a text that is easy to understand. The text of the song is taken from Robert Herrick's poem 'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time'. The poem is a call to young women to seize the day and enjoy life while they are still young. The text of the song reflects this sentiment, with lines such as "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may" and "Time's a flying". The song begins with a gentle piano introduction, which sets the mood for the rest of the piece. The vocal line enters with the first line of the poem, "Hark! Hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings". The melody is light and airy, with a rising and falling pattern that mimics the flight of a lark. The piano accompaniment follows the vocal line closely, with a delicate and flowing melody that supports the voice. The second verse of the song begins with the line "Spring, the sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king". The melody of this verse is slightly more complex than the first, with a rising and falling pattern that is more pronounced. The piano accompaniment is also more complex, with a series of arpeggios that add depth and texture to the music. The final verse of the song begins with the line "Then be not coy, but use your time". The melody of this verse is similar to the first, with a light and airy quality that reflects the sentiment of the text. The piano accompaniment is also similar to the first verse, with a flowing melody that supports the voice. Overall, 'Hark! Hark! the Lark' is a beautiful and elegant song that reflects the simplicity and elegance of Roger Quilter's music. The melody is light and airy, with a flowing quality that mimics the flight of a lark. The text is simple and easy to understand, with a sentiment that encourages young women to enjoy life while they are still young. The song is a perfect example of Quilter's style, which is characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and beauty.

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