Composer

:

Roger Quilter

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1908

'Songs (4) of Sorrow' is a song cycle composed by Roger Quilter, a British composer, in 1926. The premiere of the song cycle was held in London in the same year. The song cycle consists of four movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by different poets. The first movement, 'The Bracelet,' is a setting of a poem by Thomas Hardy. The poem tells the story of a woman who receives a bracelet from her lover, but later finds out that he has died. The music is melancholic and reflective, with a slow tempo and a mournful melody. The second movement, 'A Broken Arc,' is a setting of a poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson. The poem is about a man who has lost his wife and is struggling to come to terms with his grief. The music is somber and introspective, with a slow tempo and a haunting melody. The third movement, 'Autumn Evening,' is a setting of a poem by Walter de la Mare. The poem describes the beauty of an autumn evening, but also the sadness that comes with the passing of time. The music is wistful and nostalgic, with a gentle melody and a flowing accompaniment. The final movement, 'The Night Piece,' is a setting of a poem by Robert Bridges. The poem describes a sleepless night and the thoughts that come with it. The music is restless and agitated, with a fast tempo and a dissonant harmony. Overall, 'Songs (4) of Sorrow' is a deeply emotional and introspective song cycle that explores themes of loss, grief, and the passage of time. Quilter's music is sensitive and expressive, with a keen sense of the text and a mastery of the art of songwriting.

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