Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1943

Average_duration

:

3:04

"Now sleeps the crimson petal" is a song composed by Benjamin Britten in 1958. The song is based on a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, which was published in 1847. The premiere of the song was given by tenor Peter Pears and Britten himself on the piano, at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1958. The song is divided into three movements, each of which is characterized by a different mood and tempo. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is in a slow, flowing tempo. The second movement is marked "Allegro con slancio" and is in a faster, more energetic tempo. The third movement is marked "Lento" and is in a slow, mournful tempo. The song is characterized by Britten's use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, providing a subtle backdrop for the vocal line. The vocal line itself is lyrical and expressive, with long, flowing phrases that reflect the beauty and sensuality of Tennyson's poem. The first movement of the song is a setting of the first stanza of Tennyson's poem, which describes a flower that has closed its petals for the night. The second movement is a setting of the second stanza, which describes a lover who is waiting for his beloved to awaken. The third movement is a setting of the third stanza, which describes the lover's longing for his beloved and his despair at her absence. Overall, "Now sleeps the crimson petal" is a hauntingly beautiful song that showcases Britten's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotional depth of a poem through music.

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