Composer

:

Peter Warlock

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Carol

Compose Date

:

1918

Average_duration

:

1:50

"As Dew in Aprylle" is a choral work composed by Peter Warlock in 1922. The piece was premiered in the same year by the choir of St. George's Church in Hanover Square, London. The work is a setting of a poem by the 15th-century Scottish poet Robert Henryson. The piece is written for four-part choir (SATB) and is divided into three movements. The first movement is marked "Moderato" and begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the soprano and alto voices. The tenor and bass voices enter with a counterpoint, creating a rich and complex texture. The movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet, reflective ending. The second movement is marked "Allegro moderato" and is more lively and rhythmic than the first. The melody is passed between the different voices, creating a sense of movement and energy. The movement ends with a sudden, unexpected chord. The final movement is marked "Andante" and is the most contemplative of the three. The melody is simple and plaintive, with the voices singing in unison for much of the movement. The piece ends with a quiet, peaceful chord. The overall character of "As Dew in Aprylle" is one of gentle beauty and contemplation. Warlock's setting of Henryson's poem captures the sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of nature, as well as the fleeting nature of life. The piece is notable for its use of rich harmonies and complex counterpoint, as well as its sensitive and expressive use of text painting.

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