Composer

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John Blackwood McEwen

Genre

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Miscellaneous

Style

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Song

John Blackwood McEwen was a Scottish composer who lived from 1868 to 1948. He was known for his use of Scottish folk music in his compositions, and his Border Ballads (3) is a prime example of this. Border Ballads (3) was composed in 1908 and premiered in Glasgow on March 17th of that year. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different Scottish folk song. The first movement, "The Twa Corbies," is a dark and haunting piece that tells the story of two crows who are discussing which of them will feast on the body of a dead knight. McEwen's arrangement of the song features a mournful melody played by the strings, with the woodwinds and brass providing a sense of foreboding. The second movement, "The Dowie Dens o' Yarrow," is a more romantic piece that tells the story of a young man who is killed in a duel over a woman's love. McEwen's arrangement of the song features a beautiful melody played by the strings, with the woodwinds and brass providing a sense of longing and sadness. The third movement, "The Bonnie Earl o' Moray," is a lively and energetic piece that tells the story of a Scottish nobleman who is murdered by his jealous cousin. McEwen's arrangement of the song features a lively melody played by the woodwinds and brass, with the strings providing a sense of urgency and excitement. Overall, Border Ballads (3) is a beautiful and evocative piece that showcases McEwen's skill at incorporating Scottish folk music into his compositions. The use of different instruments to convey different emotions and moods is particularly effective, and the piece remains a popular choice for orchestras and audiences alike.

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