Composer

:

Percy Grainger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1907 - 1920

Publication Date

:

1921

Average_duration

:

2:36

"The Sprig of Thyme" is a choral work composed by Percy Grainger in 1905. It premiered in London in 1906 and was later revised in 1912. The piece is a collection of six traditional English folk songs arranged for choir and piano. The first movement, "The Sprig of Thyme," is a lively and energetic song that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl but is rejected by her. The second movement, "The Three Ravens," is a haunting and melancholic song about three ravens who are waiting to feast on a dead knight. The third movement, "The Bold Grenadier," is a rousing and patriotic song about a soldier who goes off to war and is killed in battle. The fourth movement, "Willow, Willow," is a mournful and sorrowful song about a woman who is abandoned by her lover. The fifth movement, "The Widow's Party," is a humorous and lively song about a widow who throws a party and invites all the eligible bachelors in town. The final movement, "The Lost Lady Found," is a joyful and celebratory song about a lost lady who is found and reunited with her lover. Grainger's arrangement of these folk songs is characterized by his use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms, as well as his incorporation of folk music elements such as drones and modal scales. The piano accompaniment is also notable for its intricate and virtuosic passages. Overall, "The Sprig of Thyme" is a charming and eclectic collection of English folk songs that showcases Grainger's unique style and approach to choral music.

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