Composer

:

Maude Valérie White

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

3:06

Maude Valérie White was a British composer who lived from 1855 to 1937. She was known for her vocal music, particularly her songs and choral works. One of her most famous compositions is "To Mary," a song cycle for voice and piano. "To Mary" was composed in 1891 and premiered the same year. The song cycle consists of four movements, each of which sets a poem by a different author. The first movement, "The Rose," sets a poem by Christina Rossetti. The second movement, "The Lark," sets a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The third movement, "The Nightingale," sets a poem by Robert Bridges. The final movement, "The Swallow," sets a poem by William Morris. The characteristics of "To Mary" are typical of White's style. The songs are lyrical and expressive, with a focus on the voice and the text. The piano accompaniment is supportive and often features flowing arpeggios and delicate figurations. The songs are generally in a moderate tempo, with occasional moments of faster or slower pacing. The first movement, "The Rose," is a gentle and introspective song that features a simple melody and a delicate piano accompaniment. The second movement, "The Lark," is more lively and energetic, with a soaring vocal line and a piano accompaniment that evokes the flight of the bird. The third movement, "The Nightingale," is a haunting and atmospheric song that features a more complex piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is both lyrical and dramatic. The final movement, "The Swallow," is a joyful and celebratory song that features a lively and rhythmic piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is both playful and virtuosic. Overall, "To Mary" is a beautiful and expressive song cycle that showcases White's talent for setting poetry to music. The songs are lyrical, expressive, and evocative, and they demonstrate White's skill at creating music that is both beautiful and meaningful.

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