Composer

:

John Ireland

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1925

Average_duration

:

6:52

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

'Songs (3) to Poems by Thomas Hardy' is a song cycle composed by John Ireland, a British composer, pianist, and teacher. The cycle was composed in 1926 and premiered in the same year. It consists of three movements, each of which sets a poem by the English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. The first movement, "Her Song," is a setting of Hardy's poem of the same name. It is a slow and melancholic piece, with a haunting melody that is carried by the voice. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, providing a gentle backdrop for the voice. The song is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of unease and tension. The second movement, "In a Churchyard," is a setting of Hardy's poem of the same name. It is a more upbeat and lively piece than the first movement, with a faster tempo and a more rhythmic piano accompaniment. The melody is more angular and jagged, with sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo. The song is characterized by its use of syncopation and irregular rhythms, which give it a sense of energy and vitality. The third movement, "I Have Trod the Upward and the Downward Slope," is a setting of Hardy's poem "The Comet at Yalbury." It is a slow and contemplative piece, with a simple and understated melody that is carried by the voice. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, providing a gentle backdrop for the voice. The song is characterized by its use of modal harmonies and a simple, folk-like melody, which give it a sense of timelessness and universality. Overall, 'Songs (3) to Poems by Thomas Hardy' is a beautiful and evocative song cycle that showcases John Ireland's skill as a composer. The cycle is characterized by its use of chromaticism, dissonance, syncopation, irregular rhythms, modal harmonies, and simple melodies, which give it a sense of depth, complexity, and emotional resonance.

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