Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Lullaby

Compose Date

:

ca. 1928

Publication Date

:

1928

Average_duration

:

2:17

Ralph Vaughan Williams composed "Blake's Cradle Song" in 1912, and it premiered in 1913. The piece is a setting of William Blake's poem "A Cradle Song," which is a lullaby that speaks of the love and protection a mother offers her child. The piece is written for a four-part choir, with the melody carried by the sopranos and altos, and the tenors and basses providing a rich harmonic foundation. The harmonies are lush and expressive, with Vaughan Williams using suspensions and dissonances to create a sense of tension and release. The piece is divided into three movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the poem. The first movement is slow and gentle, with the choir singing softly and tenderly. The second movement is more lively, with the choir singing in a faster tempo and with more energy. The final movement returns to the slow, gentle mood of the first, with the choir singing softly and sweetly. One of the characteristics of "Blake's Cradle Song" is its use of modal harmonies. Vaughan Williams was known for his interest in English folk music, and he often incorporated modal harmonies into his compositions. In "Blake's Cradle Song," he uses these harmonies to create a sense of timelessness and universality, as if the lullaby has been sung for generations. Another characteristic of the piece is its use of word painting. Vaughan Williams was a master of setting text to music, and in "Blake's Cradle Song," he uses the music to reflect the meaning of the words. For example, in the second movement, when the text speaks of the child's laughter, the music becomes more lively and playful. Overall, "Blake's Cradle Song" is a beautiful and moving piece of music that captures the tenderness and love of a mother for her child. Its lush harmonies, modal melodies, and word painting make it a quintessential example of Vaughan Williams' style.

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